‘It is an honour’ – Fr Donal to be appointed Auxiliary Bishop

DRIMNAGH native Fr Donal Roche has been made a bishop in the Dublin Archdiocese by Pope Francis.

Fr Roche, a priest of the Archdiocese, has been appointed as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Dublin.

He is a well-known figure in Dublin, particularly in the south of the city, having spent eight years as chaplain to St. Mark’s Community School, Tallaght.

Also Fr Roche’s first parish appointment was in Lucan South, where he spent seven years.

His current appointment is in the Cabinteely-Johnstown grouping of parishes, with additional responsibility for Cherrywood.

Born in 1958 to Sheila and Joe Roche, Fr Roche grew up in Drimnagh, one of a family of seven children.

He attended both primary and secondary school at Drimnagh Castle CBS.

He worked for four years as a clerical officer in Dublin County Council before entering Clonliffe College in 1980 to study for the priesthood.

He was sent to Maynooth to study for a degree in theology and was ordained for the Archdiocese of Dublin in 1986 in his home parish of Mourne Road.

His first appointment was a period of six years as a priest-teacher in Coláiste Dhúlaigh, Coolock.

He then spent five years as a diocesan adviser for religious education in primary schools.

During his time spent in religious education, Fr Roche also served for about six years as assistant vocations director in the Archdiocese.

His posting in Lucan was followed by 11 years in Wicklow Town, also looking after the surrounding areas of Kilbride, Barndarrig and Brittas Bay for four of those years.

Fr Roche is also Episcopal Vicar, which is a pastoral role, with responsibility for the deaneries of Bray, Donnybrook and Wicklow.

He is a fluent Irish speaker and is often called on to celebrate Mass and the sacraments in Irish in various parts of the Archdiocese.

The new Auxiliary Bishop will be supporting the Archbishop in his role of leading the Archdiocese along the synodal pathway: clergy and lay faithful working together to bring the message of the Gospel to a new generation, according to the Archdiocese.

Archbishop Dermot Farrell expressed his pleasure at the appointment of Fr Roche as bishop

“In light of the rapidly changing needs of the Archdiocese, I asked Pope Francis to consider appointing an Auxiliary Bishop to assist me,” said Archbishop Farrell.

He also alluded to what Fr Roche can bring to his new role.

“To the leadership of the Church in Dublin, Fr Donal brings extensive pastoral experience, as well as an inspiring personal witness and fidelity to the gospel,” Archbishop Farrell said.

Fr Roche thanked the Pope and Archbishop Farrell for his appointment.

“It is an honour that I feel is undeserved, but it is also a challenge that I take up willingly, if nervously.

“I will be hoping for and very much dependent on the support of the priests and people of the diocese,” Fr Roche said.

A mass was held in St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Dublin on Tuesday morning, with the principal celebrant Archbishop Farrell. An Auxiliary Bishop is given a titular see.

Fr Roche’s will be that of the ancient diocese of Cell Ausaille, which is situated in the area of Killashee near Naas, Co. Kildare.

St Auxilius was said to be a nephew of St Patrick and there are monastic ruins in Kilashee that are believed to date back to the fifth century.