“It was a wonderful day for Waterford,” Cllr James Tobin, Mayor of Waterford City & County, told The Irish Catholic as people lined up to meet and pose for photos with Bishop Phoncie Cullinan, after his episcopal ordination in Waterford on Sunday.
“How can Waterford put up with a Clareman,” Bishop Phoncie asked when he addressed the congregation for the first time after his consecration. “Well, if you can put up with Davy Fitz…,” he joked, refering to the Clare hurler, Davy Fitzgerald, who managed Waterford for two years.
Bishop Phoncie’s ordination was a vibrant, joyful and inclusive celebration. The Waterford City Brass Band entertained a crowd of people without tickets who queued for an hour and a half outside the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity in the hope of squeezing in to watch the ceremony. Five local choirs provided the music and Bishop Phoncie’s family joined him on the altar to sing the Responsorial Pslam in a poignant family moment.
During the ceremony young people from the 45 parishes of the Diocese of Waterford & Lismore brought up bricks containing a prayer for the future to complete a replica Ardmore Tower, one of the iconic symbols of the diocese. Students from Colaiste na Maighdine and Presentation Secondary School also mimed a reflection by Teresa of Avila, and a local pipe band welcomed the bishop outside the cathedral at the end of the ceremony.
President Michael D Higgins and An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny were represented by their aide-de-camps, and local public representatives, members of local civil society groups and representatives from other Christian denominations also attended.
Rivalry
A large number of bishops from across the island of Ireland took part in the ceremony with Bishop William Lee, Bishop Emeritus of Waterford & Lismore was the chief ordaining prelate. He was assisted by Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly of Cashel & Emily and the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown.
The Apostolic Mandate from Pope Francis was read by Msgr Nicholas O’Mahony, the diocesan administrator, and the sermon was preached by Msgr Michael Olden.
Msgr Olden gave an interesting account of the often violent rivalry between the Dioceses of Waterford and Lismore before they were united in 1363, and of the many saints who form part of the Christian legacy in the diocese.
Msgr Michael Olden thanked Bishop William Lee for his “years of hard work and very good example” and said that in the ordination ceremony the “torch of leadership is passed from one fine man to another”.
He said Bishop Phoncie’s “greatest challenge will be to ensure the Eucharist will be celebrated throughout every part of his diocese”, and asked the new bishop for “gentle leadership rather than hectic management” and not to be a man of “too much worry”.
Bishop Phoncie told his new flock that “there is much that I have to learn about our diocese, our people and about being a bishop”, but that he did know that “God is in charge and God has a plan for us all”.
Giving the final word to Kerry teenager Donal Walsh, who he described as one of his heroes, Bishop Phoncie concluded saying “let us walk together” so that in Donal’s words we can “climb God’s mountain”.
Reach out to those turned from faith – new bishop
Addressing his new diocese as their bishop for the first time, Bishop Phoncie Cullinan stressed the need to reach out to those “who have turned away from the practice of the faith, many of whom are in our own families and parish communities”.
He told the large congregation that we must find a way to “walk with them in a way that will
help them to see once more the beauty of following Jesus”.
Bishop Phoncie said that “out of love of Jesus” we must put ourselves at the service of others especially those most in need in our society such as “the poor, the sick, the vulnerable, those who feel alienated from God, and those on the margins”.
“We are called to step out from the doors of the Church to bring Christ to all we meet.
“This is our mission: to be filled with Christ and to bring Him to others. Christ has no body now but yours and mine,” he said.
Voices from parishes
“As the mayor of the city I am very proud. It was a wonderful day for Waterford. I wish him the very best of luck. He has a hard job ahead of him, but listening to him talking I think it will come easy to him.
There is a charisma around him.” – Cllr James Tobin, Mayor of Waterford City & County
“It was a lovely ceremony. He really got the youth and everybody involved. He seems young, down-to-earth, and a lovely man.” – Charlotte O’Flynn, Ballygunner
“It was a really beautiful ceremony. He is a lovely man and a breath of fresh air. He is really great with kids and I think he could attract a lot more young people to the Church.” –David Ryan, Ardfinnan
“My impression of the new bishop is that he is young, very nice and friendly. A lot of people only saw him for the first time today, but I think he is really for the people and he will go out and meet the people.” – Lily Carey, Waterford City
“It was a marvellous day for the diocese. The bishop comes across as a very humble, holy and spiritual man. He had everyone included in the ceremony, different denominations and young people especially.” – Eddie Hennessy, Ballybricken