POPE Francis is expected to formally appoint the new Bishop of the Raphoe Diocese in the coming days.
Bishop Philip Boyce turned 75 in January 2015 – the mandatory retirement age – and the dioceses have been awaiting the appointment of a new bishop since. The name of the new bishop will be revealed on Friday.
There is growing speculation this morning as to the identity of Bishop Boyce’s successor with priests serving in both the Raphoe and Derry diocese as well as Rome all believed to be in the frame.
Bishop Boyce was born in Downings on the 25th January 1940. Educated at Derryhassen school in Meevagh (Downings) parish and at Castlremartyr College, Co. Cork.
He joined the noviciate of the Discalced Carmelites in Loughrea, Co. Galway, making his first profession in 1959. Having completed philosophical studies in Dublin, he studied theology at the Teresianum in Rome, where he was ordained on the 17th April 1966. He received a doctorate in theology (DD) in 1977 with a dissertation the spirituality of Cardinal John Henry Newman.
During his twenty years on the teaching staff of the Pontifical Theological Faculty of the Carmelites in Rome, he taught spirituality and dogmatic theology, and for many years was engaged in the work of formation of students preparing for the priesthood or doing postgraduate studies.Bishop_crest
Bishop Boyce was ordained Bishop of Raphoe on 1st October 1995 in the Cathedral of Saints Eunan and Columba.
His Motto “In the Service of Mother Church” is of Carmelite origin. It sums up the mission he sees entrusted to him in the Episcopal ministry: one of service to the people of God in the diocese of Raphoe and to the whole family of the Church.
Bishop Boyce is Chairman of the Bishops’ Commission for Clergy, Seminaries, Permanent Diaconate, and Chairman of the Bishops’ Commission for Religious. He is a member of the Bishops’ Conference Department of Catholic Education and Formation, and a member of the Bishops’ Doctrine Commission.