Alan McGuckian

{{Short description|Irish Catholic prelate (born 1953)}} {{EngvarB|date=February 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}} {{Infobox Christian leader | name = Alan McGuckian | title = [[Bishop of Down and Connor]] | church = [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] | diocese = [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Down and Connor|Down and Connor]] | appointed = 2 February 2024 | enthroned = 14 April 2024 | term =  | predecessor = [[Noël Treanor]] | other_post =  | ordination = 22 June 1984 | consecration = 6 August 2017 | consecrated_by = [[Eamon Martin]] | rank =  | birth_name = Alexander Aloysius McGuckian | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1953|2|26}} | birth_place = [[Cloughmills]], [[County Antrim]], Northern Ireland | death_date =  | death_place =  | buried =  | residence = | parents = Brian and Pauline McGuckian | occupation = | previous_post = {{indented plainlist| * [[Bishop of Raphoe]] * Director of the Living Church Office and Director of Formation for the Permanent Diaconate for the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Down and Connor|Diocese of Down and Connor]] * Editor of ''An Timire'' and ''Foilseacháin Ábhair Spioradálta'' * Chaplain at [[Ulster University]] * Director of the Jesuit Communication Office * Vocations Director for the [[Jesuits]] * Teacher at [[Clongowes Wood College]] }} | education = | alma_mater = {{ubl | [[Queen's University Belfast]] | [[Regis College (Toronto)|Regis College, Toronto]] | [[Milltown Institute of Theology and Philosophy]] | [[University College Dublin]] }} | motto = {{langnf|la|Et velle et perficere|To will and to do}} | signature = | signature_alt = | coat_of_arms = [[File:Coat of arms of Alan McGuckian (Down and Connor).svg|140px]] | coat_of_arms_alt = | honorific_prefix = [[The Most Reverend]] | honorific_suffix = [[Society of Jesus|SJ]] }} {{Infobox bishop styles | bishop name = Alan McGuckian | dipstyle = [[The Most Reverend]] | offstyle = [[My Lord]] | relstyle = [[Bishop (Catholic Church)|Bishop]] | image = Bishops George Davidson and Alan McGuckian (cropped).jpg }} '''Alexander Aloysius''' "'''Alan'''" '''McGuckian''', [[Jesuits|SJ]] (born 26 February 1953) is an Irish [[prelate]] of the [[Catholic Church]] serving as the 33rd [[Bishop of Down and Connor]] in [[Northern Ireland]].

==Early life and education== McGuckian was born on 26 February 1953 in [[Cloughmills]], [[County Antrim]], the youngest of six children to Brian McGuckian and his wife Pauline (née McKenna).<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-06-09 |title=Antrim's Fr Alan McGuckian is new Bishop of Raphoe |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-40221892 |access-date=2023-03-11}}</ref> He was named after his uncle, also Alexander Aloysius McGuckian, who died five months before he was born.<ref name="auto">{{Cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/mcguckian-alexander-aloysius-a5696 |title=McGuckian, Alexander Aloysius |encyclopedia=Dictionary of Irsh Biography |first1=Linde |last1=Lunney |date=October 2009 |doi=10.3318/dib.005696.v1|doi-access=free }}</ref> Yet another uncle - Daniel McGuckian was a priest of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Down and Connor|Diocese of Down and Connor]] and served as [[Parish Priest]] of [[Cushendun]] and then [[Randalstown]] until his death in 1980.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stmacnissirandalstown.com/our-priests|title=Our Priests | St MacNissi|website=Stmacs}}</ref> His father was a successful [[Swineherd|pig farmer]] who, alongside his brothers, developed the world's biggest pig farm.<ref name="auto"/>

Two of his brothers are also [[Jesuits|Jesuit]] priests, while another brother is a businessman and both of his sisters have predeceased him.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weston |first=Charlie |date=28 October 1999 |title=How McGuckian got on the pig's back |url=https://www.independent.ie/business/how-mcguckian-got-on-the-pigs-back-26136625.html |access-date=10 March 2023 |website=Irish Independent}}</ref>

He attended primary school in Cloughmills and secondary school at [[St MacNissi's College]], before beginning studies in Irish and [[Scholasticism|scholastic philosophy]] at [[Queen's University Belfast|Queen's University]], [[Belfast]] in 1971, where he was a near-contemporary of future brother bishop [[Donal McKeown|Dónal McKeown]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=9 June 2017 |title=Pope Francis appoints Father Alan McGuckian SJ as Bishop of Raphoe |url=https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2017/06/09/pope-francis-appoints-father-alan-mcguckian-sj-as-bishop-of-raphoe/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference}}</ref> McGuckian first visited [[Ranafast]] in 1968, and has since become a regular visitor to the Donegal [[Gaeltacht]].<ref name=":0" />

After one year in Belfast, McGuckian entered the Jesuit novitiate at [[Manresa House, Dublin|Manresa House]] in [[Clontarf, Dublin|Clontarf]], [[Dublin]], during which time he completed a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in Latin and Spanish from [[University College Dublin]] between 1974 and 1977, a [[Bachelor of Philosophy]] from [[Milltown Institute of Theology and Philosophy]] between 1977 and 1979, and a [[Master of Divinity]] and a [[Licentiate of Sacred Theology]] from [[Regis College (Toronto)|Regis College]], [[Toronto]] between 1981 and 1985. He subsequently completed a [[Master of Arts]] in Irish translation from Queen's University, Belfast.<ref name=":0" /> He was [[Holy orders in the Catholic Church|ordained to the priesthood]] on 22 June 1984 and made his final profession on 15 February 1997.<ref name=":0" />

== Religious ministry == Following ordination, McGuckian spent four years as a teacher in [[Clongowes Wood College]] and vocations director for the Jesuits, before undertaking a six month period of spiritual renewal in southern India and serving in a [[shanty town]] in [[Quezon City]], [[Philippines]].<ref name=":0" />

He returned to Ireland in 1992, where he was appointed director of the Jesuit Communication Centre, during which he developed [[Sacred Space (website)|Sacred Space]], a website which allowed people to pray at their computer, in 1999, and Catholic news service [[CatholicIreland|CatholicIreland.net]] in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Sacred Space |url=https://www.sacredspace.ie/content/about-sacred-space |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=Sacred Space}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gately |first=Susan |date=9 June 2017 |title=Founder of CatholicIreland to be Bishop of Raphoe |url=https://www.catholicireland.net/founder-catholicireland-bishop-raphoe/ |access-date=10 March 2023 |website=CatholicIreland.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mac Donald |first=Sarah |date=2020-09-30 |title="CI News gave tremendous service" - Bishop Alan McGuckian |url=https://www.catholicireland.net/ci-news-gave-tremendous-service-bishop-alan-mcguckian/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=CatholicIreland.net |language=en-US}}</ref>

McGuckian also served as editor of both ''An Timire'' and ''Foilseacháin Ábhair Spioradálta'', later translating the autobiography of [[Ignatius of Loyola]] into Irish under the title ''Scéal an Oilithrigh''. He also co-authored the drama ''1912 - A Hundred Years On'' with [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]] historian Philip Orr in 2011, which looked at the experiences of the [[Ulster Covenant]] and the wider [[Irish Home Rule movement|Home Rule movement]] from both nationalist and unionist perspectives.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |author1=Orr |first=Philip |author2=McGuckian |first2=Alan |title=1912 - A Hundred Tears On |url=http://www.contemporarychristianity.net/website/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/1912_a_hundred_years_on_-script.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706131210/http://www.contemporarychristianity.net/website/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/1912_a_hundred_years_on_-script.pdf |archive-date=6 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2012-11-16 |title=1912 - A hundred years on |url=https://jesuit.ie/news/1912-a-hundred-years-on/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=Jesuits Ireland |language=en}}</ref>

McGuckian also served as [[chaplain]] to many of the ''[[Gaelscoil]]eanna'' in the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Down and Connor|Diocese of Down and Connor]], and subsequently as chaplain to [[Ulster University]] campuses in Belfast and [[Jordanstown]]. Following the publication of the Living Church Report, which outlined the findings of a [[Synodality|synodal process]] within the diocese, he was appointed by [[Noël Treanor]] in 2012 to set up and lead the Living Church Office, whose aim was to realise the hopes and aspirations expressed in the report and subsequently in the upcoming diocesan pastoral plan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maguire |first=Stephen |date=5 August 2017 |title=‘I never thought being a Bishop was on the cards’ – Fr Alan McGuckian |url=https://www.donegaldaily.com/2017/08/05/i-never-thought-being-a-bishop-was-on-the-cards-fr-alan-mcguckian/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=Donegal Daily |language=en-US}}</ref>

McGuckian was also appointed diocesan director of formation for the [[Deacon|permanent diaconate]] in 2014, and also worked during his directorship of the Living Church Office to establish pastoral communities across the diocese, through fostering a culture of co-responsibility for the mission of the Church between clergy and lay people.<ref name=":0" />

==Episcopal ministry==

=== Bishop of Raphoe === [[File:Coat of arms of Alan McGuckian.svg|150px|thumb|left]] McGuckian was appointed [[Bishop of Raphoe|Bishop-elect of Raphoe]] by [[Pope Francis]] on 9 June 2017.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Appointment of Fr Alan McGuckian SJ as Bishop of Raphoe|url=http://www.downandconnor.org/blog/2017/06/09/9-june-2017-appointment-fr-alan-mcguckian-sj-bishop-raphoe/|website=Diocese of Down and Connor|accessdate=9 August 2017|date=9 June 2017|archive-date=10 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810012718/http://www.downandconnor.org/blog/2017/06/09/9-june-2017-appointment-fr-alan-mcguckian-sj-bishop-raphoe/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Oisín |date=2017-06-09 |title=Fr Alan Mc Guckian SJ announced as the new Bishop of Raphoe |url=https://highlandradio.com/2017/06/09/fr-alan-mc-guckian-sj-announced-as-the-new-bishop-of-raphoe/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=Highland Radio |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-06-09 |title=Fr Alan McGuckian appointed as Bishop of Raphoe |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-30792925.html |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=Irish Examiner |language=en}}</ref> His appointment made him the first member of the [[Jesuits]] to be appointed a bishop in Ireland.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharkey |first=Conor |date=2022-07-05 |title=Bishop Alan on faith, exercise and a Donegal Camino |url=https://donegalnews.com/2022/07/bishop-alan-on-faith-exercise-and-a-donegal-camino/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=Donegal News |language=en-US |archive-date=11 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311122413/https://donegalnews.com/2022/07/bishop-alan-on-faith-exercise-and-a-donegal-camino/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Simpson |first=Claire |date=2017-08-07 |title=New Bishop of Raphoe: Jesuit priest Alan McGuckian ordained in Co Donegal |url=http://www.irishnews.com/news/2017/08/07/news/new-bishop-of-raphoe-jesuit-priest-alan-mcguckian-ordained-in-co-donegal-1103225/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=The Irish News |language=en}}</ref>

McGuckian was consecrated by the [[Archbishop of Armagh]] and [[Primacy of Ireland|Primate of All Ireland]], [[Eamon Martin]], on 6 August in the [[Cathedral of St Eunan and St Columba]], [[Letterkenny]].<ref name="first_ever_jesuit_bishop_ordained">{{cite news|title=First ever Jesuit bishop ordained in Ireland|url=http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2017/08/08/first-ever-jesuit-bishop-ordained-in-ireland/|accessdate=9 August 2017|work=Catholic Herald|date=8 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810012935/http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2017/08/08/first-ever-jesuit-bishop-ordained-in-ireland/|archive-date=10 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> He uses the name and title ''Alan Mac Eochagáin, C. Í.'' when ministering in the [[Gaeltacht]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Confirmation Day in Gortahork|work=[[Donegal News]]|date=10 March 2022|page=39}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=7 August 2017 |title=Súil ag Ardeaspag le níos mó Aifreann i nGaeilge ar fud na hÉireann |url=https://tuairisc.ie/suil-ag-ardeaspag-le-nios-mo-aifreann-i-ngaeilge/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=Tuairisc.ie |language=ga-IE}}</ref>

In an interview with ''[[The Irish Catholic]]'' in September 2019, McGuckian said that having a home is as fundamental as the right to life and education, and that the Government must be "pushed" to enshrine a [[right to housing]] in the [[Constitution of Ireland]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brady |first=Chai |date=2019-09-26 |title=Housing is a constitutional right says Bishop McGuckian |url=https://www.irishcatholic.com/housing-is-a-constitutional-right-says-bishop-mcguckian/ |access-date=2020-11-10 |website=The Irish Catholic |language=en-US}}</ref> He also joined a number of church leaders in the [[Connacht|West of Ireland]] on 16 September 2021, in calling on the [[Government of Ireland|Irish government]] to offer reparations to homeowners whose properties were affected by [[Mica scandal|defective concrete blocks]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 September 2021 |title=Church leaders call for 100% redress for mica and pyrite families |url=https://www.con-telegraph.ie/2021/09/16/church-leaders-call-for-100-redress-for-mica-and-pyrite-families/ |access-date=2023-02-21 |website=Connaught Telegraph |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McGarry |first=Patsy |date=16 September 2021 |title=Church leaders seek action on mica issues ‘peripheral to political agenda’ |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/church-leaders-seek-action-on-mica-issues-peripheral-to-political-agenda-1.4676268 |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-16 |title=Scheme for mica-impacted homes necessary - Tánaiste |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/ulster/2021/0916/1247121-mica-houses/ |access-date=11 March 2023 |website=RTÉ |language=en}}</ref>

In an interview with ''The Irish Catholic'' in February 2021, McGuckian took issue with the view held by political leaders that public worship was deemed to be "non-essential" during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland]]. Quoting Pope Francis, who stated that "the right to worship must be respected, protected and defended by civil authorities like the right to bodily and physical health", he expressed a need to let political leaders know that public worship was not only central, but also "utterly essential".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Ruadhán |date=2021-02-17 |title=We must let politicians know that worship is ‘utterly essential’, says Bishop McGuckian |url=https://www.irishcatholic.com/we-must-let-politicians-know-that-worship-is-utterly-essential-says-bishop-mcguckian/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=The Irish Catholic |language=en-US}}</ref>

Following a [[Creeslough explosion|fatal explosion]] in [[Creeslough]], [[County Donegal]], on 7 October 2022, McGuckian referred to the explosion as "the darkest day in Donegal", adding that the local community was "living through a nightmare of shock and horror". He also [[Concelebration|concelebrated]] at the [[Requiem|Funeral Masses]] of each of the victims, describing the fact that the parish church would be holding two funerals in the space of three hours as "surreal".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Carroll |first=Rory |date=2022-10-09 |title=Victims of Donegal petrol station explosion named |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/09/donegal-creeslough-explosion-shock-ireland-living-through-nightmare |access-date=2023-03-11 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pepper |first=Diarmuid |date=2022-10-11 |title='It would touch anybody's heart': Creeslough comes together for the first of 10 funerals |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/creeslough-comes-together-for-first-of-ten-funerals-5890767-Oct2022/ |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=TheJournal.ie |language=en}}</ref>

=== Bishop of Down and Connor === McGuckian was appointed [[Bishop of Down and Connor]] by Pope Francis on 2 February 2024. In his first address following his appointment, he expressed his hope that the [[2024 Northern Ireland Executive Formation|restoring]] of the [[Northern Ireland Executive]] would help the most vulnerable in society.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-02 |title=Pope Francis appoints Bishop Alan McGuckian as Bishop of Down and Connor |url=https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2024/02/02/pope-francis-appoints-bishop-alan-mcguckian-as-bishop-of-down-and-connor/ |archive-date= |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Preston |first=Allan |date=2024-02-02 |title=Homecoming for new Bishop of Down and Connor who hopes Stormont’s return will help vulnerable |url=https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/homecoming-for-new-bishop-of-down-and-connor-who-hopes-stormonts-return-will-help-vulnerable-HIGO6DN2PFG23NDNTXH53Z2TCQ/ |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=The Irish News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McGreevy |first=Ronan |date=2024-02-02 |title=Bishop Alan McGuckian ‘humbled and privileged’ to become Bishop of Down and Connor |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/social-affairs/2024/02/02/bishop-alan-mcguckian-humbled-and-privileged-to-become-bishop-of-down-and-connor/ |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-02-02 |title=Bishop Alan McGuckian appointed as new Bishop of the Diocese of Down and Connor |url=https://highlandradio.com/2024/02/02/bishop-alan-mcguckian-appointed-as-new-bishop-of-the-diocese-of-down-and-connor/ |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=Highland Radio |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McNulty |first=Chris |date=2024-02-02 |title=Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ to leave Raphoe Diocese for Down and Connor |url=https://www.donegallive.ie/news/local-news/1412331/bishop-alan-mcguckian-sj-to-leave-raphoe-diocese-for-down-and-connor.html |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=Donegal Live |language=en}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* [https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bmcgua.html Bishop Alexander Aloysius (Alan) McGuckian] on [[Catholic-Hierarchy.org]] * [http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/raph0.htm#61472 Bishop Alexander Aloysius McGuckian] on GCatholic * [https://www.raphoediocese.ie/our-diocese/bishop/ Bishop McGuckian, SJ] on [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Raphoe|Diocese of Raphoe]] {{s-start}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{s-bef | before = [[Philip Boyce (bishop)|Philip Boyce]] }} {{s-ttl | title = [[Bishop of Raphoe]] | years = since 2017 }} {{s-aft | after = incumbent }} {{s-end}} {{Authority control}} {{Roman Catholic dioceses in Ireland}} {{Roman Catholic bishops of Raphoe}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McGuckian, Alan}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in Ireland]] [[Category:20th-century Irish Jesuits]] [[Category:Alumni of Milltown Institute of Theology and Philosophy]] [[Category:Alumni of University College Dublin]] [[Category:Alumni of Queen's University Belfast]] [[Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Raphoe]] [[Category:Christian clergy from County Antrim]] [[Category:1953 births]] [[Category:Jesuit bishops]] [[Category:21st-century Irish Jesuits]] [[Category:Bishops appointed by Pope Francis]]