Newly installed Bishop of Raphoe Niall Coll said his first responsibility as bishop is not to outline plans or priorities, but to be a disciple who faithfully follows Christ.
Preaching at his Installation Mass in St Eunan’s Cathedral, Letterkenny, on Sunday, January 25, Bishop Coll reflected on Jesus’ ministry in Galilee, explaining that Christ did not wait for ideal conditions before calling his followers.
“He calls people as they are, in the midst of struggle,” Bishop Coll said. “The Church…lives by that same pattern: called first, understanding later.”
His homily focused on discipleship and the ongoing movement towards God, urging those present to be faithful rather than flawless, in the manner of the first disciples.
While acknowledging that an installation might normally be a moment to speak about future plans, Bishop Coll said such considerations must come second to following Christ. “A bishop does not stand above the call to discipleship, he stands within it.”
Bishop Coll paid tribute to the Diocese of Raphoe’s endurance and resilience, describing a people shaped by “hardship, loss, emigration and perseverance”.
He noted that the diocese has “never claimed to be at the centre of things”, yet carries “a deep memory of faith.”
Concluding his homily, Bishop Coll emphasised that the Church is built not on strategy, but on following Christ, and that ordinary people willing to walk that path continue to be the cornerstone of the faith.
