Ordination of Bishop Joseph Toal
http://www.rcdai.org.uk/articles/137/1/Ordination-of-Bishop-Joseph-Toal/Page1.html
By Website Editor
Published on 22/02/2009
Bishop Joseph's mitre, pastoral staff, episcopal ring and pectoral cross were on display in the Cathedral before the Mass of Ordination
Entrance Procession: Cardinal O'Brien and Bishops
Your Eminence, Your Excellency, Your Grace, My brother bishops, priests and deacons, reverend guests from other churches and political representatives, my dear brothers and sisters.
In giving thanks to God for my ordination as Bishop, I also wish to thank you all for your presence and prayerful participation in this evening’s liturgy, and also to all those who have accompanied us in spirit and prayer in many parts of the world. I pray that God’s Holy Spirit will guide and protect me in the apostolic ministry, which I am privileged to have been chosen for.
I am conscious of the love and support of the people of the Diocese of Argyll & The Isles, and I therefore pledge my life in service of the Catholic community in this beautiful, if stormy, part of Scotland, hoping to encourage us all to recognise each other’s needs and that of our neighbours, those close by and those further afield whose poverty and pain are made known to us. Life is not always easy in this part of the world, but we have learnt over the centuries that the Christian faith strengthens and inspires us to feel for one another and to turn to God in good times and bad, offering Him our worship and love through Our Saviour, the Lord Jesus.
I am conscious that many Gaidhlig speaking island communities form part of the Diocese and I would like to address a few words to you in my rather limited Gaidhlig:
‘S ann an Uibhist a deas a thoisich mi nam shagart, agus bho’n uairsin chuir mi seachad moran bhliadhnachan ann am paraisdean eile Uibhist cuideachd.
Thug na bliadhnachan sin dhomh eòlas agus mios mor air creideamh domhain agus sonruichte nan eileanan.
Comhla ribh a nis mar Easbuig, feumaidh sinn an creideamh priosail sin a bhrosnachadh as ùr – feumaidh sinn a thoirt seachad gu dileas dha’n oigridh tha fàs suas.
Dia ga’r beannachadh uile, agus bitheamh a cuimhneachadh orm na’r n’urnaigh.
A special thank you is due to those who have worked so hard preparing today’s liturgy – Canon Donald MacKay and the Cathedral parishioners, and Fr Michael Hutson and the Diocesan Choir. It has been a beautiful occasion enriched by such further preparation and by all who have participated today in a special way in the ordination rite and Eucharist.
Although we have our own traditions out here in the west we are very much part of Scotland and of the Catholic community in Scotland. I thank Cardinal O’Brien, the other bishops and priests, religious and laity from across the country, our friends from other churches, and representatives from public life for joining us today, and I pray that as a living community of faith we may give a strong witness to the Gospel of life and love across our land and so encourage others to faith in Christ Jesus.
I thank the Bishops from England and Ireland who have travelled to be with us today – Bishop Roche of Leeds and Bishop Duffy of Clogher. Bishop Duffy comes from the same area of County Monaghan from which the Toal family left Ireland for the Scottish Highlands about 80 years ago. Some of our relatives from Ireland have managed to be with us today also and it is lovely to welcome them also to Oban.
I have spent a good part of my life in Spain – first as a seminarian in Valladolid and over the last nine years as a member of staff in the Royal Scots College in Salamanca. Some of my friends from Spain have managed to come today, and I thank them for the effort they have made in doing so –
muchas gracias por vuestra presencia en esta misa de ordenación en la Fiesta de la Inmaculada, tan apreciada en España. Y gracias también a Vd. Don Faustino, nuestro nuncio apostólico.
In thanking Archbishop Faustino Saínz Muñoz, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United Kingdom, for his presence, we the people of the Diocese of Argyll & The Isles, like Catholics everywhere, acknowledge our communion with the Bishop of Rome and sense the love the universal church has for us, a small but ancient diocese, in which the Catholic faith has survived despite trials and isolation.
I have been blessed to be a member of a large family and all of them are here today and many relatives also. On such an occasion I remember with gratitude my deceased father, Pat, and my mother Mary and my brothers and sisters and their families especially. My mother has a reputation for coming to the Cathedral for diocesan events, especially the Mass of Chrism and the annual Vocations Mass – hopefully she will be able to keep this up in the future, and she might be invited to stay the night now from time to time!
We come from Roy Bridge, an area, a parish, which has produced a number of priests, and indeed bishops, for the Scottish mission, and we would also claim as our own Blessed Mary MacKillop, who hopefully will soon be Australia’s first canonized saint. It is a proud legacy we carry but one we, and indeed all the faithful across the Highland towns and glens and the Western Islands, need to live up to in our own time so that our faith may be passed on and loved by future generations.
In this regard we look to Mary our Mother, on this her feast day and pray that she will help us to turn our eyes towards the face of Jesus, and there find the Good Shepherd, who never leaves his flock untended, inviting each one of us to respond in our hearts to his call and to offer our lives in love and service of him.
Bishop Joseph on his day of ordination in July 1980,
with his parents, Mary and the late Pat
Mrs Mary Toal with her eldest son Joe,
the newly ordained Bishop of Argyll & the Isles
Bishop Joseph with his family
It was a memorable occasion for Donald Allan, Michael Jamie and Paul from Castlebay School, Isle of Barra.
The boys helped with the Ministry of Welcome and read at the Bishop's first Mass.
Walk humbly with your God
The new Bishop of Argyll and the Isles was ordained in St. Columba's
Cathedral, Oban on Monday, 8 December 2008, Solemnity of the Immaculate
Conception.
Right Reverend Joseph Anthony Toal
Bishop of Argyll & the Isles
Ordained 8 December 2008
Bishop of Argyll & the Isles
Ordained 8 December 2008
Photo: Anthony MacMillan
The Gathering
From the Isles, from Lochaber and Argyll, from dioceses throughout Scotland, from England, from Ireland and from Spain, a great crowd, 800 strong, gathered in St. Columba's Cathedral to witness the Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Joseph Toal.
Photos: Sr. Mary Jo McCallum
The ushers, ready for action
Photos: Sr. Mary Jo McCallum
The Bishop's Insignia
Bishop Joseph's mitre, pastoral staff, episcopal ring and pectoral cross were on display in the Cathedral before the Mass of Ordination
(photo: Fr. Michael Hutson)
The Music for the Liturgy
After months of preparation by the diocesan choir, led by Fr. Michael Hutson, all was set for a feast of liturgical music.
One final practice............
.... conducted by Elaine
....... accompanied by John
..and almost ready to go
A last-minute consultation
(photo:Christine MacIntyre)
(photo:Christine MacIntyre)
One final practice............
.... conducted by Elaine
....... accompanied by John
..and almost ready to go
The Ordination
Mgr. Toal entering the Cathedral
Entrance Procession: Cardinal O'Brien and Bishops
(photos:Christine MacIntyre)
Mgr. Toal presents himself for ordination
The Book of the Gospels is placed over the head of the Bishop-elect
Cardinal O'Brien places the mitre on the head of the new Bishop
Bishop Toal takes his place at the Bishop's throne in
St. Columba's Cathedral, Oban,
the seat of the Bishop of Argyll and the Isles
Members of Bishop Joseph's family present the Gifts
Bishop Toal is welcomed by the Bishops of Scotland
Mgr. Toal presents himself for ordination
The Cardinal asks the Bishop-elect a series of questions on his resolve to uphold the faith and to discharge his duties faithfully
The Book of the Gospels is placed over the head of the Bishop-elect
Cardinal O'Brien places the mitre on the head of the new Bishop
(photos: Anthony MacMillan)
Bishop Toal is presented with his episcopal ring and pastoral staff
Bishop Toal is presented with his episcopal ring and pastoral staff
(photo: Paul McSherry)
Bishop Toal takes his place at the Bishop's throne in
St. Columba's Cathedral, Oban,
the seat of the Bishop of Argyll and the Isles
Members of Bishop Joseph's family present the Gifts
(photos: Anthony MacMillan)
Bishop Toal is welcomed by the Bishops of Scotland
(photo: Paul McSherry)
Bishop Joseph's Address
Your Eminence, Your Excellency, Your Grace, My brother bishops, priests and deacons, reverend guests from other churches and political representatives, my dear brothers and sisters.
In giving thanks to God for my ordination as Bishop, I also wish to thank you all for your presence and prayerful participation in this evening’s liturgy, and also to all those who have accompanied us in spirit and prayer in many parts of the world. I pray that God’s Holy Spirit will guide and protect me in the apostolic ministry, which I am privileged to have been chosen for.
I am conscious of the love and support of the people of the Diocese of Argyll & The Isles, and I therefore pledge my life in service of the Catholic community in this beautiful, if stormy, part of Scotland, hoping to encourage us all to recognise each other’s needs and that of our neighbours, those close by and those further afield whose poverty and pain are made known to us. Life is not always easy in this part of the world, but we have learnt over the centuries that the Christian faith strengthens and inspires us to feel for one another and to turn to God in good times and bad, offering Him our worship and love through Our Saviour, the Lord Jesus.
I am conscious that many Gaidhlig speaking island communities form part of the Diocese and I would like to address a few words to you in my rather limited Gaidhlig:
‘S ann an Uibhist a deas a thoisich mi nam shagart, agus bho’n uairsin chuir mi seachad moran bhliadhnachan ann am paraisdean eile Uibhist cuideachd.
Thug na bliadhnachan sin dhomh eòlas agus mios mor air creideamh domhain agus sonruichte nan eileanan.
Comhla ribh a nis mar Easbuig, feumaidh sinn an creideamh priosail sin a bhrosnachadh as ùr – feumaidh sinn a thoirt seachad gu dileas dha’n oigridh tha fàs suas.
Dia ga’r beannachadh uile, agus bitheamh a cuimhneachadh orm na’r n’urnaigh.
A special thank you is due to those who have worked so hard preparing today’s liturgy – Canon Donald MacKay and the Cathedral parishioners, and Fr Michael Hutson and the Diocesan Choir. It has been a beautiful occasion enriched by such further preparation and by all who have participated today in a special way in the ordination rite and Eucharist.
Although we have our own traditions out here in the west we are very much part of Scotland and of the Catholic community in Scotland. I thank Cardinal O’Brien, the other bishops and priests, religious and laity from across the country, our friends from other churches, and representatives from public life for joining us today, and I pray that as a living community of faith we may give a strong witness to the Gospel of life and love across our land and so encourage others to faith in Christ Jesus.
I thank the Bishops from England and Ireland who have travelled to be with us today – Bishop Roche of Leeds and Bishop Duffy of Clogher. Bishop Duffy comes from the same area of County Monaghan from which the Toal family left Ireland for the Scottish Highlands about 80 years ago. Some of our relatives from Ireland have managed to be with us today also and it is lovely to welcome them also to Oban.
I have spent a good part of my life in Spain – first as a seminarian in Valladolid and over the last nine years as a member of staff in the Royal Scots College in Salamanca. Some of my friends from Spain have managed to come today, and I thank them for the effort they have made in doing so –
muchas gracias por vuestra presencia en esta misa de ordenación en la Fiesta de la Inmaculada, tan apreciada en España. Y gracias también a Vd. Don Faustino, nuestro nuncio apostólico.
In thanking Archbishop Faustino Saínz Muñoz, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United Kingdom, for his presence, we the people of the Diocese of Argyll & The Isles, like Catholics everywhere, acknowledge our communion with the Bishop of Rome and sense the love the universal church has for us, a small but ancient diocese, in which the Catholic faith has survived despite trials and isolation.
I have been blessed to be a member of a large family and all of them are here today and many relatives also. On such an occasion I remember with gratitude my deceased father, Pat, and my mother Mary and my brothers and sisters and their families especially. My mother has a reputation for coming to the Cathedral for diocesan events, especially the Mass of Chrism and the annual Vocations Mass – hopefully she will be able to keep this up in the future, and she might be invited to stay the night now from time to time!
We come from Roy Bridge, an area, a parish, which has produced a number of priests, and indeed bishops, for the Scottish mission, and we would also claim as our own Blessed Mary MacKillop, who hopefully will soon be Australia’s first canonized saint. It is a proud legacy we carry but one we, and indeed all the faithful across the Highland towns and glens and the Western Islands, need to live up to in our own time so that our faith may be passed on and loved by future generations.
In this regard we look to Mary our Mother, on this her feast day and pray that she will help us to turn our eyes towards the face of Jesus, and there find the Good Shepherd, who never leaves his flock untended, inviting each one of us to respond in our hearts to his call and to offer our lives in love and service of him.
Bishop Joseph with his family
Bishop Joseph on his day of ordination in July 1980,
with his parents, Mary and the late Pat
Mrs Mary Toal with her eldest son Joe,
the newly ordained Bishop of Argyll & the Isles
Bishop Joseph with his family
(photos: Anthony MacMillan)
First Episcopal Mass
Bishop Joseph's first Episcopal Mass was celebrated in the Cathedral
on 9th December, Tuesday of the second week of Advent.
on 9th December, Tuesday of the second week of Advent.
It was a memorable occasion for Donald Allan, Michael Jamie and Paul from Castlebay School, Isle of Barra.
The boys helped with the Ministry of Welcome and read at the Bishop's first Mass.
(photos: Fr. Michael Hutson)
Bishop Joseph's Motto
At his first Episcopal Mass in the Cathedral Bishop Joseph announced the text of his chosen Motto, taken from Micah 6: 8
Walk humbly with your God
(photo: Paul McSherry)
Prayer for the Bishop and his People