Hearty Welcome to Bishop Dermot Farrell
The Syro-Malabar Church in Dublin gladly welcomes the Archbishop-Elect Dermot Farrell. His experience in different realms of ecclesial ministry as a curate in Mullingar, Director of Formation for the Pontifical Irish College, President of the revision of the formation programme Pastores Dabo Vobis at St Patrick’s, Supervisor of the renovation of its heritage buildings, Vice President of St. Patrick’s College in Maynooth from 1993 to 1996, president from 1996 to 2007, Parish Priest of Dunboyne, in the Diocese of Meath, Vicar-General of the diocese, Bishop of Ossory since 2018, Member of the standing committee of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference and Conference’s finance secretary in March 2019 will be very positive towards the integral formation of the people of God in Dublin. Some information we received through his recent interview imprint in us an impressive erudition of the role of the parents in handing down of our faith to the posterity and of defining of the Christian faith in a meaningful and practical way. He said, “Women have almost preserved the faith in the church, certainly in this country and probably beyond. They were the ones who handed on the faith or took the responsibility for handing it on. Our mothers were very important in terms of teaching and prayer. They were the ones, more than the fathers. That’s where a lot of us got our faith, we got it from our parents. Personally, it came from my mother and father. I didn’t learn it.” “You learned catechism in school, but catechism was not the faith. Faith is a relationship with the Lord.”
Hope his wisdom from research in the realm of moral theology on Christian Morality as a Sacramental Way of Life would help the people of God to respond to the call of God’s initiative with responsibility and sacra-mentality.
The Syro-Malabar Church in Dublin invokes Lord’s abundant blessings in his sacred ministry.
Thank you, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin will be remembered in the history of the Syro-Malabar Church as one of the shepherds who knew how to give pastoral care for the migrants by welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating them. He knew the heart of the migrants especially the Syro-Malabar migrants, as he has seen the pains and panics, fret and frustrations, the trials and tribulations of this community during his long diplomatic career in different countries. Since his appointment as Archbishop his welcoming and cordial approach to the Syro-Malabar Church has given great hope and profound optimism for the bishops, priests, religious and faithful of the Syro-Malabar Church.
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has shown great interest and deep commitment to the pastoral care of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Faithful in Ireland as envisaged by the laws and norms of the Catholic Church by accommodating three priests for the pastoral care in 9 mass centres having more than 1000 families and by providing a pastoral centre (priests’ residence) and churches for spiritual and liturgical needs.
On this propitious occasion we extend our sincere appreciation for what you have been to us. May good Lord bless you in the coming years with health and happiness.
The Syro-Malabar Church in Dublin
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