Niall Coll

The Most Reverend, Dr.

Niall Coll
Bishop of Ossory
ChurchRoman Catholic
DioceseOssory
Appointed28 October 2022
Installed22 January 2023
PredecessorDermot Farrell
Previous post(s)Professor of Religious Studies and Religious Education at St Mary's University College
Chaplain and Teacher at Pobalscoil na Rosann
Lecturer at St Patrick's, Carlow College
Teacher at St Eunan's College
Orders
Ordination3 July 1988
by Séamus Hegarty
Consecration22 January 2023
by Dermot Farrell
Personal details
Born (1963-08-25) 25 August 1963 (age 61)
Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland
Alma materPontifical Gregorian University
Trinity College Dublin
St Patrick's College, Maynooth
Coat of arms
Ordination history of
Niall Coll
History
Priestly ordination
Ordained bySéamus Hegarty
Date3 July 1988
PlaceCathedral of St Eunan and St Columba, Letterkenny, Ireland
Episcopal consecration
Principal consecratorDermot Farrell
Co-consecratorsAlan McGuckian
Denis Nulty
Date22 January 2023
PlaceSt Mary's Cathedral, Kilkenny, Ireland
Source(s):[1][2][3]
Styles of
Niall Coll
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Grace
Religious styleBishop

Niall Coll (born 25 August 1963) is an Irish Roman Catholic prelate and theologian who has served as Bishop of Ossory since 22 January 2023.

Early life and education

Coll was born in Letterkenny, County Donegal, on 25 August 1963, one of four children to Willie and Kathleen Coll. He grew up in nearby St Johnston and attended secondary school at St Eunan's College.[3][4][5][6]

Coll began studying for the priesthood at St Patrick's College, Maynooth, in 1981, completing a Bachelor of Arts in history and geography from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, in 1984, and a Bachelor of Divinity from the Pontifical University in 1987.[7]

He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Raphoe on 3 July 1988.[8][3]

Presbyteral ministry

Following ordination, Coll completed a licentiate in dogmatic theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 1989, before returning to Ireland for his first diocesan assignment, as a teacher at St Eunan's College until 1991. He subsequently obtained a higher diploma in education from Trinity College, Dublin, in 1992, before returning to Rome to complete doctoral studies in Christology at the Pontifical Gregorian University.[9][10]

Coll returned to Ireland once again in 1995, upon his appointment as a lecturer at St Patrick's, Carlow College. He returned to the Diocese of Raphoe in 1998, serving as curate in Dungloe and simultaneously as chaplain and teacher at Pobalscoil na Rosann.[11][12][13]

In 2001, Coll was appointed professor in religious studies and religious education at St Mary’s University College in Belfast. He returned to the Diocese of Raphoe once again in 2020, when he was appointed as parish priest of Drumholm (centred on Ballintra), before being appointed parish priest of Tawnawilly (centred on Donegal) the following year. Coll also served on the diocesan pastoral council and coordinated the promotion of the diocesan pastoral plan upon its publication in April 2022.[14][15][16]

In an interview with The Irish Catholic in 2018, he emphasised the importance of intelligence and reason in faith development.[17]

In conjunction with his priestly appointments, Coll has conducted retreats for clergy, contributed to publications including Doctrine and Life, The Furrow, Irish Theological Quarterly and The Tablet, and edited the Catholic school ethos journal Le Chéile.[18][19] He has also edited a collection of essays evaluating Ireland's response to the Second Vatican Council.[20][21]

On a national level, Coll has also served as a member of the Inter-Church Committee of the Irish Council of Churches.[22]

Episcopal ministry

Coll was appointed Bishop-elect of Ossory by Pope Francis on 28 October 2022.[1][23][24][25][26]

He was consecrated by his predecessor, the Archbishop of Dublin, Dermot Farrell, on 22 January 2023 in St Mary's Cathedral, Kilkenny.[27][28][2][29]

Bibliography

  • Coll, Niall (1995). Some Anglican interpretations of Christ's pre-existence: a study of L. S. Thornton, E. L. Mascall, J. A. T. Robinson and J. Macquarrie. Rome. OCLC 312567965.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Coll, Niall (2001). A Church with a Future: Challenges to Irish Catholicism Today. Dublin: Four Courts Press. ISBN 9781856074889.
  • Coll, Niall (2005). Christ in Eternity and Time: Modern Anglican Perspective. Dublin: Columba Books. ISBN 9781851825998.
  • Coll, Niall, ed. (2015). Ireland and Vatican II: Essays Theological, Pastoral and Educational. Dublin: Columba Press. ISBN 9781782182764.

References

  1. ^ a b "Nomina del Vescovo di Ossory (Irlanda)". Holy See Press Office (in Italian). 28 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b Sheridan, Lisa (17 January 2023). ""Trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit, discern and change we must" – Bishop-elect of Ossory Niall Coll". Catholic News. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  3. ^ a b c McNulty, Chris (19 January 2023). "The day everything changed for the soon to be ordained Bishop of Ossory". Donegal Democrat. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  4. ^ McLaughlin, Rachel (17 August 2020). "Rev Dr Niall Coll returning to Donegal after 19 years". Donegal Daily. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  5. ^ McNulty, Chris (28 October 2022). "Fr Niall Coll appointed as new Bishop of Ossory". Donegal Live. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  6. ^ Chris McNulty [@ChrisMcNultyDgl] (2 January 2023). "Pictured in the mid 60s is signalman Willie Coll, father of the Bishop-elect of Ossory, Fr Niall Coll" (Tweet). Retrieved 17 January 2023 – via Twitter.
  7. ^ "Pope Francis appoints Father Niall Coll as Bishop of Ossory". Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. 28 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  8. ^ Jones, Kevin J. (28 October 2022). "Irish bishop-to-be encourages 'new generation' of Christian witness". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  9. ^ Kelly, Michael (28 October 2022). "Fr Niall Coll appointed Bishop of Ossory". The Irish Catholic. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  10. ^ Ganly, Conor (28 October 2022). "Laois has a new bishop who hails from Donegal". Leinster Express. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  11. ^ Burke, Sinéad (28 October 2022). "A new Catholic Bishop of Ossory is being appointed". KCLR 96FM. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  12. ^ "Donegal priest appointed as Bishop of Ossory". Highland Radio. 28 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  13. ^ McHugh, Michael (29 December 2022). "Gallery: Fond farewell for Fr Niall Coll as Bishop elect leaves Donegal for Ossory Diocese". Donegal Live. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  14. ^ McGonagle, Suzanne (29 October 2022). "Former professor at St Mary's University College Belfast appointed new bishop of Ossory". The Irish News. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  15. ^ "Diocesan Changes 2020". Diocese of Raphoe. 17 August 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  16. ^ "Diocesan Clergy Changes 2021". Diocese of Raphoe. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  17. ^ Fitzpatrick, Colm (28 June 2018). "Making the choice of Faith". The Irish Catholic. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  18. ^ McDonald, Sarah (28 October 2022). "New bishop advocates change in line with 'synodality'". The Tablet. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  19. ^ Gately, Susan (28 November 2015). "New book evaluates Ireland's response to Vatican II". CatholicIreland.net. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  20. ^ O'Loan, Baroness Nuala (21 December 2015). "Courage, patience and discernment needed to meet challenge of Vatican II". The Irish News. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  21. ^ Wright, Jonathan (4 February 2016). "Why Vatican II didn't shake the Irish Church". Catholic Herald. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  22. ^ "Inter–Church Committee Member Dr Niall Coll Appointed as Bishop of Ossory". Irish Council of Churches. 31 October 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  23. ^ Kane, Conor (28 October 2022). "Donegal priest appointed new Bishop of Ossory". RTÉ. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  24. ^ Dunne, Christopher (28 October 2022). "BREAKING: Kilkenny has a new bishop who hails from Donegal". Kilkenny People. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  25. ^ Lawlor, Tina (28 October 2022). "Welcome of Fr Niall Coll, appointed Bishop of Ossory – Ossory". Diocese of Ossory. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  26. ^ "Fr Niall Coll, PP, Bishop-elect of Ossory Diocese". Diocese of Raphoe. 28 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  27. ^ O'Boyle, Conor (3 November 2022). "Ordination of Mgr Coll as Bishop of Ossory". St Mary's Cathedral. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  28. ^ "BISHOP ELECT NIALL COLL". Thomastown Parish. 4 November 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  29. ^ Matthews, Sam (22 January 2023). "New Bishop of Ossory Niall Coll ordained at St Mary's Cathedral in Kilkenny today". Kilkenny People. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Ossory
since 2023 		Incumbent