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Kevin Gillespie (Monsignor)

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The Very Reverend

Kevin Gillespie
Native name
Caoimhín Mac Giolla Easpuig
ChurchCatholic Church
DioceseRaphoe
Appointed20 August 2018
PredecessorVery Rev. Eamonn Kelly
Orders
Ordination1999[1]
Personal details
Born
Kevin Gillespie

1972 or 1973 (age 51–52)
Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal, Ireland
EducationSt Eunan's College

Kevin Gillespie (/ɡɪˈlɛspi/ ghil-ESP-ee; born 1972/3)[2] is an Irish priest who since 20 August 2018[3][4] serves as Vicar Forane and Administrator of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raphoe's Cathedral Parish of Conwal and Leck. Having spent much time at the Vatican and worked closely with two Popes (Benedict XVI and Francis),[1] he has been mentioned as a possible future Bishop of Raphoe.[5]

Biography

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Gillespie was educated at St Eunan's College. His surname (Gillespie) translates as "Devotee of the Bishop".[6] He is originally from Gaoth Dobhair.[1][2] The youngest of six children, his eldest sister (Sorcha) visited him each spring during his time in Rome.[1]

Gillespie's ordination came in 1999.[1] Following his ordination at St. Eunan's Cathedral, he returned to his native Gaoth Dobhair where the "people of Gweedore gave a tumultuous and warm welcome to Father Kevin Gillespie."[7] He was posted to the rural parish of Fintown after being ordained.[8] He served there for five years before being appointed to the Cathedral parish in Letterkenny for a further five years.[citation needed] Fr. Gillespie served for a time as Director of the Raphoe Diocesan Pilgrimage to Fatima.[9] While based in Letterkenny, Fr. Gillespie recorded the recitation of the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary as part of the CD 'An Paidrín Páirteach.' The CD subsequently earned a gold disc, which was presented to Bishop Philip Boyce on February 1, 2007.[10] Fr. Gillespie moved to Rome in 2008, where he worked for the Congregation for the Clergy.[11][2] He then returned to Ireland and was based at the Cathedral of St Eunan and St Columba in 2017, where he served as Curate.[2] He was appointed as Administrator of the Cathedral by Bishop Alan McGuckian, SJ, in 2018.[12]

While in Rome, Fr. Gillespie pursued doctoral studies in canon law.[13] He led the procession of cardinal electorss into the conclave which chose Jorge Mario Bergoglio to succeed Pope Benedict XVI (and with whom Gillespie also worked closely).[14][1] Gillespie served as Papal Master of Ceremonies for both popes.[15][16] He assisted Francis during his first Easter Sunday Mass at St. Peter's Basilica on 31 March 2013. Photographs included in national and international media showed Gillespie standing to the right of Pope Francis. Gillespie had earlier led Holy Thursday Mass at the Pontifical Irish College in Rome.[13] Gillespie was part of the Papal Delegation accompanying Pope Francis during his visit to the Philippines in January 2015[17] and was also present when Pope Francis declared Mother Teresa a saint in St. Peter's Square in September 2016.[18] He joined Members of the Colloquium of Anglican and Roman Catholic Canon Lawyers at their May 2017 reunion in Rome, following their establishment by the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), the Centre for Law and Religion at Cardiff University and Duquesne University School of Law.[19] He was also involved in the World Meeting of Families 2018, which coincided with Pope Francis's visit to Ireland.[20] He is credited too with exerting his considerable influence to get an Irishwoman into Pope Benedict's funeral and, having achieved this, she was able to give the Second Reading.[21] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gillespie agreed to celebrate weekday morning Mass for the nation on RTÉ Television.[22]

Following the appointment of Alan McGuckian to Down and Connor, Gillespie was appointed Diocesan Administrator on 20 March 2024.[14][23] McGuckian took up his new position on 19 March 2024.[24][25]

Honours

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The Vatican has awarded him the title Monsignor.[2][17]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Mgr Kevin Gillespie, Adm., VF". Diocese of Raphoe | Letterkenny | Co. Donegal. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e Walsh, Harry (29 June 2017). "Clerical changes under way in Raphoe diocese". Donegal News. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017.
  3. ^ "Clerical changes announced for the Raphoe Diocese: The new Administrator of St Eunan's Cathedral will be Monsignor Kevin Gillespie". Donegal Democrat. 16 July 2018.
  4. ^ "Clerical Changes announced for the Diocese of Raphoe". Highland Radio. 16 July 2018. Archived from the original on 16 July 2018.
  5. ^ McNulty, Chris (8 June 2017). "Donegal-based priest tipped to be new Bishop of Raphoe Diocese". Archived from the original on 10 July 2017.
  6. ^ "Gillespie Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Gillespie Family History". irishsurnames.com. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Gweedore's great reception for Fr. Kevin". Donegal News. 9 July 1999. p. 7.
  8. ^ "Diocesan Changes". Donegal News. 27 August 1999. p. 5.
  9. ^ "Raphoe pilgrimage to Fatima in July". Donegal News. 4 June 2004. p. 22.
  10. ^ "How the rosary became a gold disc". Donegal News. 26 January 2007. p. 1.
  11. ^ "Fifteen clerical changes in Raphoe Diocese". Donegal News. 8 August 2008. p. 1.
  12. ^ Staff Reporter. "Clerical changes announced for the Raphoe Diocese". www.donegallive.ie. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  13. ^ a b "Gaoth Dobhair born priest assists in papal liturgies". www.donegallive.ie. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  14. ^ a b McKinney, Seamus (20 March 2024). "Former Papal Master of Ceremonies appointed caretaker of Raphoe diocese". The Irish News. Archived from the original on 20 March 2024.
  15. ^ McNulty, Christ (10 January 2023). "Donegal priest recalls 'kind, courteous' Pope Benedict". Donegal Democrat. p. 4.
  16. ^ "Two New Papal MCs". Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  17. ^ a b "Where did the Vatican Cardinals and Papal Bodyguards stay during the Papal Visit in Manila 2015?". 20 January 2015. Archived from the original on 23 May 2015. He can be seen to the right of Guido Marini in the first photograph.
  18. ^ "Donegal involvement at canonisation of St Theresa". Donegal News. 8 September 2016. Archived from the original on 31 October 2017.
  19. ^ "Anglican and Roman Catholic Canon Lawyers meet in Rome". 13 May 2017. Archived from the original on 2 October 2017.
  20. ^ McLaughlin, Rachel (8 June 2018). "Holy Family Icon is welcomed to St Eunan's Cathedral for weekend of prayer". Archived from the original on 5 June 2019.
  21. ^ Conneely, Ailbhe (5 January 2023). "Donegal woman had 'joy in my heart' after Papal funeral reading". RTÉ News. Archived from the original on 5 January 2023. Earlier archive link
  22. ^ "Mass at St Eunan's Cathedral to be aired daily on RTE". Donegal News. 19 March 2020. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020.
  23. ^ "Monsignor Kevin Gillespie appointed as caretaker Bishop of Raphoe". 20 March 2024. Archived from the original on 20 March 2024.
  24. ^ "Msgr Kevin Gillespie to serve as Diocesan Administrator in Raphoe". Highland Radio. 20 March 2024. Archived from the original on 20 March 2024.
  25. ^ Gallagher, Aoife (20 March 2024). "Monsignor Kevin Gillespie elected as Diocesan Administrator Diocese of Raphoe". www.donegallive.ie. Archived from the original on 20 March 2024.
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