Picture: Valerie O’Sullivan
THE former Bishop of Kerry, Dr Bill Murphy, this week celebrates the diamond jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood.
The popular Bishop Emeritus, who studied for the priesthood in Maynooth, was ordained on the 18th June, 1961 and Friday marked his landmark diamond jubilee.
An avid walker, who enjoys daily strolls in the national park, Bishop Murphy still regularly celebrates Mass in St Mary’s Cathedral.
Born on June 6th, 1936 at Annaghmore, Headford, Bishop Bill was educated at Ratheen National School and St Brendan’s College, Killarney.
Following his ordination, he taught for six years at St Colman’s College, Newry and then studied catechetics at Lumen Vitae in Brussels and Fordham University, New York where he was awarded an MA in Religious Education in 1969.
He became Kerry Diocesan Advisor for Religious Education in primary schools for a year before spending three years at the Gregorian University in Rome, being awarded a doctorate in divinity in 1973.
For the next five years he worked with the Primary Catechetical Commission preparing the Children of God series, the primary schools’ catechetical programme.
A respected scholar and a wonderful preacher, Bishop Bill taught theology in the Institute for Religious Education, Mount Oliver in Dundalk for a year before returning to Kerry in 1979 as Diocesan Director of Religious Education in post-primary schools and co-ordinator of adult religious education in the diocese.
He was the first director of the John Paul II Pastoral Centre, Killarney and he became a curate in the Killarney Parish in September 1987 before taking over as Parish Administrator in 1988.
Following the death of Bishop Diarmaid Ó Súilleabháin in August 1994, Fr Murphy was chosen as Bishop of Kerry in June 1995 and he was ordained on 10th September, 1995. He announced his retirement on 11th June 2011 on reaching his 75th birthday.
Another Killarney cleric celebrating his diamond jubilee this week is Fr Paddy O’Donoghue who is well known for his commitment to and support of the Dr Crokes GAA Club.
Fr Paddy, who lived on St Anne’s Road, also helps out regularly at St Mary’s Cathedral by celebrating Mass and concelebrating funeral services..
The Killarney Parish has thanked both Bishop Murphy and Fr O’Donoghue for their commitment and congratulated them on their landmark anniversaries.
