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Derry man favourite for bishop
30.11.11
BOOKMAKER Paddy Power
has tipped Monsignor Eamon Martin as favourite to
become the next Bishop of Derry. Mgr Martin was
elected administrator of the diocese at the weekend,
following the resignation of Bishop Seamus Hegarty
on health grounds. Paddy Power is giving odds of 2/1
on Mgr Martin, a native of the city, succeeding Dr
Hegarty. A former of secretary of the Irish
Conference of Bishops, he is also a past president
of St Columb's College in Derry.
Following his election, Mgr Martin said: “I thank
the College of Consultors for the trust they have
shown in electing me as diocesan administrator for
the Diocese of Derry. It is my prayer that I will
live up to that trust.
"In thanking Bishop Hegarty for his seventeen years
of ministry as bishop in the Diocese of Derry, I
pray for him in his retirement, in particular for
his health.
"My duty is to lead the diocese from now until a new
bishop is appointed. In recent years, the
appointment of bishops has taken a significant
period of time and this may well be the case in
Derry. During this time, I ask your prayers that,
guided by the Holy Spirit, a suitable bishop will be
appointed.” |
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Pictured at Mgr Martin's election on
Friday are, from left, Mgr Joseph Donnelly, Mgr
Bryan McCanny, Fr Patrick McGoldrick, Fr Michael
Canny, Mgr Eamon Martin (Diocesan Administrator), Fr
John Farren, Fr Francis Bradley, Fr John Cargan. |
Meanwhile, Mgr. Martin
is followed in the betting rankings by Monsignor
Bryan McCanny, 9/4; Fr Eugene Sweeney, 3/1; Fr Tim
Bartlett, 11/2; Fr Paul Murray, 6/1; Fr Mark Ephrem
Nolan, 8/1; Father Michael Canny, 12/1 and Bishop
Brian Farrell, 16/1. Derry's next church leader
"must be confirmed by an official spokesperson for
the Vatican by end 2013 or bets void", warned the
bookie.
Diocesan spokesman, Fr Michael Canny, yesterday said
he was unaware that odds were being offered on the
Derry church vacancy. "I wouldn't be a betting man,"
he said. Ghana-born Cardinal Peter Turkson is tipped
by Paddy Power at 2/1 to become the next Pope. |
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