The Most Reverend

Paul Dempsey

MTh
Bishop of Achonry
ChurchRoman Catholic
DioceseAchonry
Appointed27 January 2020
Installed30 August 2020
PredecessorBrendan Kelly
Orders
Ordination6 July 1997
by Laurence Ryan
Consecration30 August 2020
by Michael Neary
Personal details
Born (1971-04-20) 20 April 1971
Carlow, County Carlow, Ireland
ParentsTony and Berry Dempsey
Previous post(s)Parish priest of Newbridge
Vicar forane of the North deanery
Diocesan youth director and director of vocations for the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin
Alma materMilltown Institute
St. Patrick's, Carlow College
All Hallows College
MottoDuc in altum
(Put out into the deep)
Coat of armsPaul Dempsey's coat of arms
Styles of
Paul Dempsey
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Grace
Religious styleBishop

Paul Dempsey (born 20 April 1971) is an Irish Roman Catholic prelate who has served as Bishop of Achonry since 2020.

Early life and education

Dempsey was born in Carlow on 20 April 1971, the youngest of four children to Tony and Berry Dempsey. He moved with his family to Athy, County Kildare, in 1978, where he attended the local Christian Brothers primary school and secondary school at the local Christian Brothers secondary school, Scoil Eoin.[1][2]

Dempsey studied for the priesthood in Milltown Institute, St Patrick's, Carlow College and All Hallows College.[3]

He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin on 6 July 1997.[4]

Presbyteral ministry

Following ordination, Dempsey's first pastoral appointment was as a curate in Clane and Rathcoffey. Seven years later, he was appointed curate in Kildare, and simultaneously as diocesan youth director and director of vocations. During his time as diocesan youth director, Dempsey organised two World Youth Day pilgrimages in 2005 and 2008. It was during his curacy in Kildare that he also started writing a weekly article in the Leinster Leader and presenting Religion Matters, a religious and social affairs program on Kfm.

Dempsey returned to the Milltown Institute for further studies, completing a master's degree in theology in 2008.[5] His thesis examined whether the Catholic Church in contemporary Ireland was a church in crisis or in question.[6]

Dempsey was appointed to the parish cluster of Naas, Sallins and Two Mile House in 2009, before moving to Newbridge in August 2014, when he was also appointed vicar forane for the North deanery. The following year, Dempsey was appointed parish priest in Newbridge and simultaneously administrator in Caragh and Prosperous.[7]

In a December 2010 article for The Furrow on being a priest in modern Ireland, Dempsey wrote that “the Church community needs to enter into a period of deep reflection”, adding that it would be “refreshing to see some leadership around this ‘reflection’ culminating in some form of national Church gathering", and noting his awareness of major issues in the church, such as the role of women and the appointment of bishops.[8]

Episcopal ministry

Dempsey was appointed Bishop-elect of Achonry by Pope Francis on 27 January 2020.[1][9][10] His episcopal ordination was initially scheduled to take place on 19 April, but was rescheduled on 17 June due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11][12][13]

Dempsey was eventually consecrated by the Archbishop of Tuam, Michael Neary, on 30 August in the Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Nathy, Ballaghaderreen.[14][15][16]

In response to a document published by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in March 2021, Dempsey released a statement on 26 March 2021 in which he referred to language in the document banning blessings for same-sex couples as "hurtful".[17][18]

References

  1. 1 2 "Pope Francis appoints Father Paul Dempsey as the new Bishop of Achonry". Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  2. ↑ Ivers, Donna (28 January 2020). "Past Pupil Appointed as Bishop of Achonry". Ardscoil na Tríonóide. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  3. ↑ Pender, Suzanne (31 January 2020). "Fr Paul Dempsey is Carlow's first bishop in more than 130 years". Carlow Nationalist. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  4. ↑ McCaughley, Ciara (30 August 2020). "Episcopal Ordination of new Bishop of Achonry in Ballaghaderreen this afternoon". Roscommon Herald. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  5. ↑ "Fr Paul Dempsey to be new Bishop of Achonry". The Irish Catholic. 27 January 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  6. ↑ MacDonald, Sarah (27 January 2020). "Pope Francis appoints Fr Paul Dempsey as the new Bishop of Achonry". CatholicIreland.net. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  7. ↑ Hogan, Senan (6 February 2020). "INTERVIEW: Kildare's Fr Paul Dempsey, the new Bishop of Achonry, on his new job, celibacy and women in the church". Leinster Leader. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  8. ↑ Dempsey, Paul (December 2010). "Being a Priest in Ireland Today — a young priest's view". The Furrow. 61 (12): 667–676. JSTOR 29765041 – via JSTOR.
  9. ↑ McGarry, Patsy (27 January 2020). "Kildare priest appointed new Catholic bishop in west of Ireland". The Irish Times. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  10. ↑ "New bishop appointed to Diocese of Achonry". Connaught Telegraph. 27 January 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  11. ↑ "Rescheduled date announced for the Episcopal Ordination of Father Paul Dempsey, Bishop-elect of Achonry". Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  12. ↑ "Virus outbreak delays ordination of Bishop". The Sligo Champion. 28 March 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  13. ↑ Duggan, Marian (17 June 2020). "New date for bishop's ordination". Western People. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  14. ↑ "Fr Paul Dempsey to be ordained as bishop this afternoon". Kildare Nationalist. 30 August 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  15. ↑ "Media information for the Episcopal Ordination of Bishop-elect Paul Dempsey". Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  16. ↑ Hearns, Orla (30 August 2020). "New bishop ordained at unique socially-distanced ceremony in Ballaghaderreen". Western People. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  17. ↑ McGarry, Patsy (26 March 2021). "Vatican language on gay blessings 'hurtful', says Ireland's youngest Catholic bishop". The Irish Times. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  18. ↑ Dodd, Liz; MacDonald, Sarah. "Priests take aim at 'outdated' CDF on LGBT+ people". The Tablet. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
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