Kilmore priest elevated to Monsignor

Fr Enda Murphy, a priest attached to the Diocese of Kilmore, was recently made a Domestic Chaplain to His Holiness, Pope Francis, with the title of Monsignor.

The honour is in recognition of his “exceptional work” in the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in Rome as Capo Ufficio (Head of Office).

A native of Derrylin, Co Fermanagh, Monsignor Murphy was ordained in 2001.

He studied at Queen’s University, Belfast, before being sent in 2008 to undertake further studies at the Gregorian University in Rome and at the Pontifical Athenaeum of St Anselm, a university run by the Benedictine order, where he received a Doctorate in Liturgy.

A former seminarian and postgraduate student of the Irish College, he returned home in 2013 to serve for a number of years as curate in the parish of Laragh and as Chaplain to St Clare’s College in Ballyjamesduff and at Cavan Institute.

As Director of Pastoral Development and Adult Faith Development for the Diocese of Kilmore, Monsignor Murphy was involved in organising the Kilmore Diocesan Assembly in 2014, which led to the subsequent Pastoral Plan for the diocese.

He was subsequently transferred to the Congregation of Divine Worship & Discipline of the Sacraments (as it was called then) in 2015, becoming Capo Ufficio in September 2021.

The appointment to the second of nine congregations and various other councils, commissions and committees in the Roman Curia, was made public by the Vatican Secretariat of State.

Monsignor Murphy’s role as Capo Ufficio has responsibility for all the English-speaking world, northern and eastern Europe, India and Asia, acting as the Holy See’s personal delegate to the International Commission on English.

A spokesperson for the Diocese of Kilmore stated that Fr Murphy's elevation as Monsignor was “not simply because of his excellent work in the field of liturgy and administration, relating well with bishops and episcopal conferences, religious congregations etc, but also in his role of dealing effectively and in a fraternal manner with others for whom he is responsible in his work. It is clearly a sign of Pope Francis’ esteem for him.”

They added: “We pray God’s continued blessings upon Monsignor Murphy on his ministry and service to the Universal Church.”