Hugh Connolly (priest)

Hugh Gerard Connolly is the current President of St Patrick's College, Maynooth, Ireland.

Early life

Born in September 1961, Father Hugh Connolly is a native of Burren near Warrenpoint, Co Down and is a priest of the Diocese of Dromore with the ecclesiastical title Monsignor.[1]

Career

Father Connolly was schooled at the Abbey Grammar in Newry before commencing his studies for the priesthood in Maynooth, where he was ordained in May 1987. He completed postgraduate doctoral studies in moral theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome in 1991.[2]

He was Executive Secretary of the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference from 1991 to 1997. He published a book on The Irish Penitentials in 1995[3] and in 2002 published the volume Sin in the "New Century Theology" series.[4]

He served as Registrar (2001–2006) at the Pontifical University Maynooth and as Vice President of St Patrick's College (1999-2007). On 10 August 2007, the Trustees of St Patrick's College, Maynooth, announced the appointment of Father Connolly as President of the College.[2] He was reappointed for a second term on 29 May 2012 at the summer meeting of the College Trustees.[5]

In March 2011 Connolly denied rumors that Maynooth Seminary may be closing. "Media reports today about the possible closure of the seminary are without foundation. The media outlet leading with this incorrect story was sent a reply from us yesterday and its absence from the published copy is disappointing and damaging".[6] A year later when the Summary of the finding of the Apostolic Visitation in Ireland was published there was in fact no reference whatever to seminary closures.[7] In his capacity as Rector of the National Seminary Connolly has spoken frequently on the vocations question in Ireland.[8]

Connolly has also sought to raise the international profile of the Pontifical University at Maynooth and currently serves as one of two board members for the Continent of Europe on IFCU the umbrella body for rectors of Catholic Universities worldwide.[9]

References

  1. Bishops' Conference, Irish (2015). Irish Catholic Directory 2015 (2015 ed.). Dublin: Veritas Publications. p. 168. ISBN 9781847305794. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  2. 1 2 "St Patrick's College appoints new President". RTÉ. August 10, 2007. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  3. Connolly, Hugh (1995). The Irish Penitentials. Dublin: Four Courts Press. ISBN 978-1851821617. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  4. Connolly, Hugh (2001). Sin (1 ed.). London: Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 978-0826451842. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  5. Leinster Leader 6 June 2012
  6. "Dolan to recommend closure of Maynooth: Report | CathNewsUSA". CathNewsUSA. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
  7. Visitation, Apostolic. "Summary of the Findings of the Apostolic Visitation in Ireland". http://www.vatican.va. Holy See. Retrieved 16 February 2016. External link in |website= (help)
  8. Kane, Conor. "Maynooth gets 17 new seminarians". www.irishtimes.com. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
  9. Secretariat, IFCU. "IFCU Board of Administration 2015 to 2018". www.fiuc.org. Retrieved 12 February 2016.

External links


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