FORMER Bishop of Raphoe Alan McGuckian SJ will be installed as the new Bishop of Down and Connor on Sunday.
The ceremony takes place at 3pm in Saint Peter’s Cathedral, in Saint Peter’s Square, Belfast.
Following the conclusion of the Mass, and at the front door of the Cathedral, Bishop McGuckian will greet members of the congregation in person.
His Eminence Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop Emeritus of Armagh will preside at Sunday’s ceremony.
Among the concelebrants will be Most Rev Eamon Martin, Metropolitan Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland; His Excellency
Most Rev Luis M Montemayor, Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland; Most Rev Noël Treanor, Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union and Bishop Emeritus of Down and Connor; Most Rev Donal McKeown, Bishop of Derry; Rev Bernard McGuckian SJ, brother of Bishop Alan McGuckian; Rev Michael McGuckian SJ, brother of Bishop Alan McGuckian; Rev Shane Daly SJ, Provincial of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in Ireland and Most Rev Philip Boyce, Bishop Emeritus of Raphoe.
In addition, members of the Irish Bishops’ Conference, both serving and retired, and other clergy from the Diocese of Down and Connor and from the Diocese of Raphoe will be present.
Family members and friends of Bishop McGuckian, along with lay representatives from across the Diocese, will also be present and involved in the ceremony including John B McGuckian (brother of Bishop McGuckian), Jim Deeds (who assisted Bishop McGuckian with the ‘Living Church’ initiative) as well as teachers and students from local schools.
Representatives of other Christian denominations are also expected to be in attendance as well as civic leaders and local and national public representatives.
Saint Peter’s Cathedral Choir and the Down and Connor Schola Cantorum will perform the music throughout the liturgy under the direction of Mr James McConnell.
The ceremony will be live streamed via the Peter’s Cathedral, Belfast, webcam (www.churchservices.tv/stpeterscathedral) and on the Diocesan Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/downandconnor/).
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