Diocesan Celebration for Bishop Leo

There will be a concelebrated Mass in the Cathedral of SS. Patrick & Felim this weekend to mark the Golden Jubilee of Bishop Leo O’Reilly’s Ordination to the Priesthood and also his retirement from the See of Kilmore.

The Mass takes place at 3pm on Sunday, June 9, the Feast of Pentecost.

Bishop O’Reilly himself will be the principal celebrant, and Monsignor Liam Kelly, the Diocesan Administrator, will give the homily.

An open invitation has been extended to priests, deacons, religious, school representatives, representatives of diocesan organisations and the lay-faithful of the diocese to attend the Mass.

An informal reception will take place afterwards in St. Patrick’s College, during which a number of presentations will be made to Bishop Leo.

It was announced last year that Bishop Leo was retiring on health grounds.

He tendered his resignation following the advice of his doctor, and in advance of his 75th birthday.

Bishop Leo was born in Corgreagh, Kill, Co. Cavan, and later moved to Kilconny, Belturbet.

He received his early education in Drumnatrade and Tullyvin National Schools and later in St Patrick’s College, Cavan. He studied for the priesthood in Maynooth College and was ordained in 1969.

He was a member of the staff in St Patrick’s College until 1976, when he went to Rome to do further studies.

He served on the staff of the Irish College from 1978 until 1980. Having received a doctorate in theology from the Gregorian University in 1981 he was appointed chaplain to Bailieboro Community School.

In 1988 he went to the diocese of Minna in Nigeria and later joined the staff of the National Missionary Seminary of St Paul at Abuja. He returned to Kilmore in 1995 and was appointed parish priest of Castletara (Ballyhaise).

Bishop O’Reilly was ordained Coadjutor Bishop of Kilmore on February 2, 1998, and installed as Bishop of Kilmore on November, 15, 1998.