Post by Alaisdir Ua Séaghdha on May 26, 2008 14:32:50 GMT
The Diocese of Killala covers a substantial portion of north Co Mayo and some of west Co Sligo. It has a Catholic population of slightly over 38,000 in 22 parishes served by 52 priests. Its official website is: www.killaladiocese.org/.
Since the promulgation of the 1984 indult, there have been three bishops in Killala: Bishop Thomas McDonnell, who served from 1970 to 1987; Bishop Thomas Finnegan, who served between 1987 and 2002; and Bishop John Fleming, who has been Bishop of Killala since 2002.
Killala has no history of SSPX activity, but there are a number of Feeneyites in the Ballina area. North Mayo has a long history of immigration to the United States (significantly Boston) and elsewhere, so it is possible some returned immigrants had been influenced by the Feeneyite movement in Massachusetts.
Bishop Finnegan instituted a monthly Sunday Mass in the Pastoral Centre on the grounds of St Muredach's Cathedral, Ballina in 1992. This is unusual among Irish indult Masses insofar as it is the only known example of a bishop instating one of his own volition without having been canvassed to do so by members of the faithful. The sole celebrant was Father Robert Rutledge. The Mass continued as long as Bishop Finnegan was bishop. When Mgr Fleming succeeded him, Father Rutledge approached Father John Loftus, a curate in the parish of Rathduff (near Ballina) to say Mass on the same basis in the parish church in Rathduff. This continued until Father Loftus was moved to Belmullet in May of last year. Father Rutledge continues to say the traditional Mass privately in his own home in Rathduff.
Father Loftus himself has learned to the say the traditional Mass and has said it on a few occasions for the Latin Mass Society of Ireland. He has discussed the possibility of an 'official' extraordinary form Mass in the diocese with the bishop, but there is considerable opposition to this among some diocesan clergy.
Since the promulgation of the 1984 indult, there have been three bishops in Killala: Bishop Thomas McDonnell, who served from 1970 to 1987; Bishop Thomas Finnegan, who served between 1987 and 2002; and Bishop John Fleming, who has been Bishop of Killala since 2002.
Killala has no history of SSPX activity, but there are a number of Feeneyites in the Ballina area. North Mayo has a long history of immigration to the United States (significantly Boston) and elsewhere, so it is possible some returned immigrants had been influenced by the Feeneyite movement in Massachusetts.
Bishop Finnegan instituted a monthly Sunday Mass in the Pastoral Centre on the grounds of St Muredach's Cathedral, Ballina in 1992. This is unusual among Irish indult Masses insofar as it is the only known example of a bishop instating one of his own volition without having been canvassed to do so by members of the faithful. The sole celebrant was Father Robert Rutledge. The Mass continued as long as Bishop Finnegan was bishop. When Mgr Fleming succeeded him, Father Rutledge approached Father John Loftus, a curate in the parish of Rathduff (near Ballina) to say Mass on the same basis in the parish church in Rathduff. This continued until Father Loftus was moved to Belmullet in May of last year. Father Rutledge continues to say the traditional Mass privately in his own home in Rathduff.
Father Loftus himself has learned to the say the traditional Mass and has said it on a few occasions for the Latin Mass Society of Ireland. He has discussed the possibility of an 'official' extraordinary form Mass in the diocese with the bishop, but there is considerable opposition to this among some diocesan clergy.