Pope Francis has appointed Fr Donal Roche as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Dublin.
The episcopal appointment was announced at St Mary's Pro-Cathedral in Dublin by Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell this morning.
Auxiliary bishops assist diocesan bishops in meeting the pastoral and administrative needs of dioceses.
Fr Roche grew up in Drimnagh in Dublin, where he attended the local CBS primary and secondary schools.
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.
Fr Roche spent six years as a priest-teacher in Coláiste Dhúlaigh, Coolock, and a further five years as a diocesan adviser for religious education in primary schools.
This was followed by eight years as chaplain to St Mark's Community School, Tallaght. He also served several years as assistant vocations director in the Archdiocese.
Fr Roche's first parish appointment was in Lucan South, followed by 11 years in Wicklow Town, where he looked after the surrounding areas of Kilbride, Barndarrig and Brittas Bay for a number of years.
His current appointment is in the Cabinteely-Johnstown grouping of parishes, with additional responsibility for the growing area of Cherrywood.
Fr Roche was appointed Episcopal Vicar by then Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin in 2019 and continues in this role under Archbishop Farrell, with responsibility for the deaneries of Bray, Donnybrook and Wicklow. It is a pastoral role, supporting priests and parishioners.
A fluent Irish speaker, Fr Roche is often called upon to celebrate mass and the sacraments in Irish in various parts of the Archdiocese.
With fewer clergy and greater lay involvement in parishes, the new Auxiliary Bishop will be supporting the Archbishop of Dublin 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.
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 5th Century.
In light of the rapidly changing needs of the Archdiocese, the Archbishop of Dublin asked Pope Francis to consider appointing an Auxiliary Bishop to assist him in the ministry to a diocese that has a population of over 1.5 million, of whom a million identify as Catholics, spread over 197 parishes.
Archbishop Farrell expressed gratitude to Pope Francis, and to Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor, Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, for facilitating his request.
He thanked Fr Roche for accepting the call to leadership and noted that the Auxiliary Bishop brings extensive pastoral experience, as well as an inspiring personal witness and fidelity to the gospel.
Archbishop Farrell said that since the appointment of the first Auxiliary Bishop in Dublin in 1883, the Auxiliary Bishops have made a significant contribution to the life of the diocese.
"I have no doubt Fr Donal will bring his many gifts, fresh ideas and deep motivation to the Church's work that of proclaiming the promise and hope of the Gospel and witnessing to joy and consolation in this time and place," he said.
Fr Roche also expressed his gratitude to Pope Francis for the honour bestowed on him by calling him to serve as Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin.
While he described it as an honour that he felt was undeserved, he said that it was also a challenge he would take up "willingly, if nervously".
"I am very aware of my limitations, but I am also aware of the strength that comes from God, a strength that has sustained me many times in the past," he said.
Fr Roche acknowledged that the Catholic Church has been through challenging times.
"We have been through difficult times over the last 20 years or so and the path that lies ahead is also very uncertain," Fr Roche said.
"But we have a strength in the commitment and faith of the priests and people of the Archdiocese who draw nourishment from the Gospel of Jesus Christ and who are engaged in the process of building hope for the future," he said.
"I have seen that faith and commitment in action in all the parishes and communities I have been involved in over the years," he added.
Fr Roche said that he still has the same enthusiasm for the ministry today that he had at the start, "despite all the ups and downs and upheavals of recent years".
"Being a priest has been my greatest joy and privilege and I hope I can continue to share that joy with the people I work with for many years to come. Hope and joy in ministry is my greatest strength," he said.