Denis Nulty

{{Short description|Irish Roman Catholic bishop}} {{EngvarB|date=January 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = | honorific_prefix = [[The Most Reverend]] | name = Denis Nulty | honorific_suffix = [[Order of the Holy Sepulchre (Catholic)|KC*HS]] | title = [[Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin]] | church = [[Roman Catholic]] | diocese = [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin|Kildare and Leighlin]] | appointed = 7 May 2013 | enthroned = 4 August 2013 | predecessor = [[James Moriarty (bishop)|James Moriarty]] | ordination = 12 June 1988 | ordained_by = [[Michael Smith (bishop)|Michael Smith]] | consecration = 4 August 2013 | consecrated_by = [[Diarmuid Martin]] | previous_post = [[Apostolic administrator]] of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Ossory|Ossory]]<br>Parish priest of St Mary's, [[Drogheda]]<br>[[Vicar forane]] of the [[Duleek]] [[deanery]]<br>Chairperson of the [[Presbyteral council|council of priests]] of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Meath|Diocese of Meath]] | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1963|06|07}} | birth_place = [[Slane]], [[County Meath]], Ireland | motto = ''Serve the Lord with gladness'' | coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Denis Nulty.svg | alma_mater = {{unbulleted list|[[St. Patrick's College, Maynooth]]|[[All Hallows College]]|[[Dublin City University]]}} | other_post = }} {{infobox bishopstyles |name=Denis Nulty |dipstyle=[[The Most Reverend]] |offstyle=[[Your Grace]] |relstyle=[[Bishop]] |deathstyle= }}

'''Denis Nulty''' [[Order of the Holy Sepulchre (Catholic)|KC*HS]] (born 7 June 1963) is an [[Republic of Ireland|Irish]] [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] [[prelate]] who has served as [[Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin]] since 2013.

==Early life== Nulty was born in [[Slane]], [[County Meath]], on 7 June 1963, the youngest of five children to Den Nulty and his wife Nan (née Balfe).<ref name=":1" />

He attended primary school at St. Patrick's National School, Slane, and secondary school at [[St Patrick's Classical School]], [[Navan]], before studying for the priesthood at [[St Patrick's College, Maynooth]], in 1981, obtaining a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in 1984 and a [[Bachelor of Divinity]] in 1987.<ref name=":1" />

He was [[Holy orders in the Catholic Church|ordained to the priesthood]] for the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Meath|Diocese of Meath]] on 12 June 1988.<ref name="tulow">{{cite journal|title=Our New Bishop |url=http://www.tullowparish.com/publications/newsletter/Pentecost_Sunday[2013-5-19].pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115030426/http://www.tullowparish.com/publications/newsletter/Pentecost_Sunday%5B2013-5-19%5D.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 November 2018 |journal=Tullow, Grange & Ardattin Newsletter |date=19 May 2013 |accessdate=2014-09-24 }}</ref>

== Presbyteral ministry == Following his ordination, Nulty served for ten years as a [[curate]] in the cathedral parish of [[Mullingar]], as well as chaplain to the local Accord centre and [[Spiritual direction|spiritual director]] at [[St Finian's College]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=7 May 2013 |title=Nomina del vescovo di Kildare and Leighlin (Irlanda) |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2013/05/07/0279/00624.html#NOMINA%20DEL%20VESCOVO%20DI%20KILDARE%20AND%20LEIGHLIN%20(IRLANDA) |access-date=2022-03-30 |website=[[Holy See Press Office]] |language=it}}</ref> He became the youngest parish priest in Ireland when he was appointed to St Mary’s parish, [[Drogheda]], in August 1998.<ref name="conference">{{cite press release| url=http://www.catholicbishops.ie/2013/05/07/statement-bishop-smith-appointment-father-denis-nulty-bishop-kildare-leighlin/| title=Statement by Bishop Smith on appointment of Father Denis Nulty as Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin| publisher=Irish Conference of Catholic Bishops| date=7 May 2013| accessdate=2014-09-24}}</ref>

Nulty completed further studies in [[All Hallows College]], [[Dublin]], and obtained a [[Master of Arts]] in Management for Pastoral and Voluntary Services from [[Dublin City University]] in 2006.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Bishop Denis Nulty |url=https://www.kandle.ie/our-diocese/bishop/ |access-date=2022-03-30 |website=[[Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin]] |language=en-GB}}</ref>

He was also appointed chairperson of the diocesan [[Presbyteral council|council of priests]] in 2005, and later as [[vicar forane]] for the [[Duleek]] [[deanery]] in September 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Donohoe |first=John |date=7 May 2013 |title=Slane priest named as Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin |url=https://www.meathchronicle.ie/2013/05/07/slane-priest-named-as-bishop-of-kildare-and-leighlin/ |access-date=2022-03-30 |website=Meath Chronicle |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Episcopal ministry==

=== Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin === Nulty was appointed [[Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin|Bishop-elect of Kildare and Leighlin]] by [[Pope Francis]] on 7 May 2013, becoming the youngest bishop in Ireland by succeeding the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Armagh|Archbishop of Armagh]], [[Eamon Martin]], by two years.<ref name="diocese">{{cite news| url=http://www.kandle.ie/fr-denis-nulty-appointed-bishop-kildare-leighlin/| title=Fr. Denis Nulty appointed Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin| date=9 May 2013| publisher=Kildare & Leighlin Diocese| accessdate=2014-09-24| archive-date=16 November 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116205054/http://www.kandle.ie/fr-denis-nulty-appointed-bishop-kildare-leighlin/| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=7 May 2013 |title=New bishop of Kildare and Leighlin appointed |work=[[Raidió Telefís Éireann]] |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0507/390796-denis-nulty-bishop/ |access-date=30 March 2022}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome address by Monsignor Byrne on the appointment of Father Denis Nulty as Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin |url=https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2013/05/07/address-monsignor-byrne-appointment-father-denis-nulty-bishop-kildare-leighlin/ |access-date=2022-03-30 |website=Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference}}</ref> He was [[Consecration|consecrated]] by the [[Archbishop of Dublin (Roman Catholic)|Archbishop of Dublin]], [[Diarmuid Martin]], on 4 August in the [[Cathedral of the Assumption, Carlow|Cathedral of the Assumption]], [[Carlow]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Episcopal Ordination of Father Denis Nulty as Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin to take place on Sunday 4 August |url=https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2013/07/30/episcopal-ordination-father-denis-nulty-bishop-kildare-leighlin-place-sunday-4-august/ |access-date=2022-03-30 |website=Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Boyle |first=Conal |date=2013-08-13 |title=Bishop Nulty ordained in Carlow cathedral |url=https://carlow-nationalist.ie/2013/08/13/bishop-nulty-ordained-in-carlow-cathedral/ |access-date=2022-03-30 |website=[[Carlow Nationalist]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

In light of the Government decision to hold a [[Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland|referendum]] on [[Same-sex marriage in the Republic of Ireland|same-sex marriage]] in 2015, Nulty emphasised in November 2013 said while there is always a need to [[homosexuality and Catholicism|treat homosexuals with compassion]], he added that the very nature of marriage and children and their importance to society are worth protecting, saying that "[the] Catholic Church will continue to hold that the differences between a man and woman are not accidental to marriage but fundamental to it and that children have a natural right to a mother and a father and that this is the best environment for them where possible".<ref>{{cite news| title=Govt will 'actively support' same-sex marriage referendum in 2015| url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/1105/484662-same-sex-marriage/| work=[[RTÉ News]]| date=6 November 2013| accessdate=2014-09-24}}</ref>

Ahead of a [[Thirty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland|referendum]] on [[Marriage in the Republic of Ireland|easing divorce restrictions]] in May 2019, he issued a statement suggesting that "the objective of the proposed referendum is not to support marriage, rather to liberalise divorce", and that "it is imperative that we continue to work together to promote marriage and family.”<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pollak |first=Sorcha |date=18 May 2019 |title=Catholics urged to 'reflect deeply' before voting in divorce referendum |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/catholics-urged-to-reflect-deeply-before-voting-in-divorce-referendum-1.3897288 |access-date=2022-03-30 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref>

=== Apostolic Administrator of Ossory === Following the installation of [[Dermot Farrell]] as Archbishop of Dublin on 2 February 2021, Nulty was announced as [[Apostolic administration|Apostolic Administrator]] of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Ossory|Ossory]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 February 2021 |title=Pope Francis appoints Bishop Denis Nulty as Apostolic Administrator of Ossory |url=https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2021/02/02/pope-francis-appoints-bishop-denis-nulty-as-apostolic-administrator-of-ossory/ |access-date=2022-03-30 |website=Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Doyle |first=Domhnall |date=2021-02-02 |title=Bishop Denis Nulty named Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Ossory |url=https://kclr96fm.com/bishop-nulty-administrator-ossory/ |access-date=2022-03-30 |website=[[KCLR 96FM]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> He served in this role until the consecration of [[Niall Coll]] as [[Bishop of Ossory]] on 22 January 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 October 2022 |title=Pope Francis appoints Father Niall Coll as Bishop of Ossory |url=https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2022/10/28/pope-francis-appoints-father-niall-coll-as-bishop-of-ossory/ |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kane |first=Conor |date=28 October 2022 |title=Donegal priest appointed new Bishop of Ossory |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/leinster/2022/1028/1331949-fr-niall-coll/ |access-date=29 October 2022 |website=RTÉ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Matthews |first=Sam |date=22 January 2023 |title=New Bishop of Ossory Niall Coll ordained at St Mary's Cathedral in Kilkenny today |url=https://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/home/1016252/new-bishop-of-ossory-niall-coll-ordained-at-st-mary-s-cathedral-in-kilkenny-today.html |access-date=2023-01-22 |website=[[Kilkenny People]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Quirke |first=Ethna |date=2023-01-22 |title=The new Bishop of Ossory will be installed officially later today. |url=https://kclr96fm.com/the-new-bishop-of-ossory-will-be-installed-officially-later-today/ |access-date=2023-01-22 |website=KCLR 96FM |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Following the easing of restrictions brought about by the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland|COVID-19 pandemic]], Nulty announced on 4 July that for the first time in living memory, a [[Confirmation in the Catholic Church|confirmation ceremony]] would take place in the open-air surroundings of a [[List of Gaelic Athletic Association stadiums|GAA stadium]], with 392 primary school children from four parishes in [[Kilkenny]] city receiving the sacrament on 9 September in [[Nowlan Park]], Kilkenny.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Slater |first=Sarah |date=2021-07-04 |title=GAA county ground offered as confirmation venue |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40329023.html |access-date=2022-03-30 |website=Irish Examiner |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Slater |first=Sarah |date=10 September 2021 |title=A 'first' confirmed: GAA allows celebration of faith in Nowlan Park |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/a-first-confirmed-gaa-allows-celebration-of-faith-in-nowlan-park-40835731.html |access-date=2022-03-30 |website=independent |language=en}}</ref> A similar ceremony took place for 361 primary school children from seven schools in [[Portlaoise]] on 18 September in [[O'Moore Park]], Portlaoise.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 August 2021 |title=Bishop says 'health has to trump everything' after confirmations postponed |work=Raidió Telefís Éireann |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/leinster/2021/0811/1240233-portlaoise-confirmation/ |access-date=30 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hayes |first=Carmel |date=2021-08-05 |title=Plans still on track for Portlaoise Confirmations at O'Moore Park |url=https://laois-nationalist.ie/2021/08/05/plans-still-on-track-for-portlaoise-confirmations-at-omoore-park/ |access-date=2022-03-30 |website=Laois Nationalist |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hayes |first=Carmel |date=2021-09-23 |title=One parish, seven schools, 361 students and one extraordinary day |url=https://laois-nationalist.ie/2021/09/23/one-parish-seven-schools-361-students-and-one-extraordinary-day/ |access-date=2022-03-30 |website=Laois Nationalist |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== References == <references />

== External links == {{wikiquote}} {{commons category}} * [https://catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bnulty.html Bishop Denis Nulty] on [[Catholic-Hierarchy.org]] * [https://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/kild0.htm#52194 Bishop Denis Nulty] on GCatholic * [https://twitter.com/BishopDNulty Bishop Denis Nulty] on [[Twitter]] {{S-start}} {{S-rel|ca}} {{Succession box | before = [[James Moriarty (bishop)|James Moriarty]] | title = [[Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin]] | years = since 7 August 2013 | after = incumbent }} {{S-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nulty, Denis}} [[Category:1963 births]] [[Category:Christian clergy from County Meath]] [[Category:Alumni of St Patrick's College, Maynooth]] [[Category:Alumni of All Hallows College, Dublin]] [[Category:21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in Ireland]] [[Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Kildare and Leighlin]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Bishops appointed by Pope Francis]]