Denis Nulty becomes Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin

Slane native Denis Nulty has been ordained as the new Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, saying vocations and renewal of the Church will be his priorities.

Referring to his motto, ‘Serve the Lord with Gladness’, 50-year-old Bishop Nulty said the priesthood was a call, not a career; a way of life, not a job; an identity, not just a role.

Bishop Nulty was ordained by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin, who was assisted by the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown and Bishop Michael Smith of Meath. 

Twenty members of the Irish hierarchy also attended the ordination, including Cardinal Sean Brady and Cardinal Desmond Connell.

Bishop Nulty was one of three priests who last Friday concelebrated the funeral Mass for the two little Chada brothers, who died tragically in their father's car last week, and he also spent time with the family when the news first broke that their bodies have been found in Co Mayo.

The Meath-born bishop told the congregation, which included Patsy Murphy, the grandmother of the Chada brothers, that what had happened in Ballinkillen had made people “acutely aware” that “we just need one another”.

On 7 May 2013, Pope Francis appointed Fr Denis Nulty, who was then parish priest of Saint Mary’s in Drogheda, in the Diocese of Meath, as the new Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin.

The diocese includes Co Carlow and parts of Counties Kildare, Laois, Offaly, Kilkenny, Wicklow and Wexford.

Bishop Nulty has chosen the Episcopal motto ‘Serve the Lord with Gladness’ which is taken from Psalm 100.

His crest features a hill with a fire on top recalling the lighting of the Paschal fire by St Patrick on the hill at Easter. Also included is the Cross of St Brigid of Kildare. As an ancient Christian symbol the Fleur-de-Lys represents purity and the Virgin Mary.