Pope John Paul II today appointed the Most Reverend Jim
Moriarty, Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, as Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin.
Dr Moriarty (65) was born in Dublin and educated at Catholic University School, Lower Leeson Street, Holy Cross College, Clonliffe, UCD and St Patrick’s College, Maynooth.
He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Dublin in 1961 and held a number of appointments including Chaplain in UCD from 1968 to 1979. He was the first Parish Priest of Deansrath (a developing area beside Clondalkin) from 1983 to 1989 and Parish Priest of Donaghmede from 1989 to 1991.
In the late 1980s he was elected Chairman of the Dublin Diocesan Council Priests. In September 1991, he was ordained Titular Bishop of Bononia and Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin with responsibility for the Deaneries of Fingal South East, Fingal South West and Howth.
Bishop Moriarty is currently Chairman of the National Committee of Diocesan Youth Directors, and will be a speaker at the Pope’s “World Youth Day” celebrations in Toronto next month. He is also Chairman of the Episcopal Commission for Pastoral Renewal, and was formerly President of the Episcopal Commission for Social Welfare.
Dr Moriarty will replace The Most Reverend Laurence Ryan who was Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin since 1987. Bishop Ryan (71) retired shortly after he had had major heart surgery.
The Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin has a Catholic population of 183,000 in 56 parishes, and includes County Carlow and parts of Counties Kildare, Laois, Offaly, Kilkenny, Wicklow and Wexford. The Cathedral of the Assumption is located in Carlow Town.