Paul Dempsey (bishop)

{{Short description|Irish prelate (born 1971)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=October 2020}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = Bishop | name = Paul Dempsey | title = [[Auxiliary bishop|Auxiliary Bishop]] of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin|Dublin]] [[Titular bishop|Titular Bishop]] of [[Diocese of Sita|Sita]] | church = [[Roman Catholic]] | predecessor = [[Raymond Field (bishop)|Raymond Field]] and [[Éamonn Walsh (bishop)|Éamonn Walsh]] (Dublin) [[Udo Marcus Bentz|Udo Bentz]] (Sita) | successor =  | ordination = 6 July 1997 | ordained_by = [[Laurence Ryan]] | consecration = 30 August 2020 | consecrated_by = [[Michael Neary (bishop)|Michael Neary]] | rank =  | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1971|04|20}} | birth_place = [[Carlow]], [[County Carlow]], Ireland | motto = ''Duc in altum'' (Put out into the deep) | previous_post = [[Bishop of Achonry]] Parish priest of [[Newbridge, County Kildare|Newbridge]] [[Vicar forane]] of the North deanery Diocesan youth director and director of vocations for the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin|Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin]] | alma_mater = [[Milltown Institute of Theology and Philosophy|Milltown Institute]] [[St. Patrick's, Carlow College]] [[All Hallows College]] | honorific_suffix = [[Master of Theology|MTh]] | honorific_prefix = [[The Most Reverend]] | coat_of_arms = Coat of arms of Paul Dempsey.svg | appointed = 10 April 2024 | parents = Tony and Berry Dempsey | see = Sita | archdiocese = Dublin }} {{Infobox bishop styles | bishop name = Paul Dempsey | dipstyle = [[The Most Reverend]] | offstyle = [[Your Grace]] | relstyle = [[Bishop (Catholic Church)|Bishop]] | image = }}

'''Paul Dempsey''' (born 20 April 1971) is an [[Republic of Ireland|Irish]] [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] [[prelate]] who has served as [[auxiliary bishop]] of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin|Dublin]] and [[titular bishop]] of [[Diocese of Sita|Sita]] since 2024.

== Early life and education == Dempsey was born in [[Carlow]] on 20 April 1971, the youngest of four children to Tony and Berry Dempsey. He moved with his family to [[Athy]], [[County Kildare]], in 1978, where he attended the local [[Congregation of Christian Brothers|Christian Brothers]] primary school and secondary school at the local Christian Brothers secondary school, Scoil Eoin.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Pope Francis appoints Father Paul Dempsey as the new Bishop of Achonry |url=https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2020/01/27/pope-francis-appoints-father-paul-dempsey-as-the-new-bishop-of-achonry/ |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ivers |first=Donna |date=28 January 2020 |title=Past Pupil Appointed as Bishop of Achonry |url=https://ardscoil.ie/Article/Past-Pupil-Appointed-as-Bishop-of-Achonry/6413/Index.html |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=Ardscoil na Tríonóide |language=English}}</ref>

Dempsey studied for the priesthood in [[Milltown Institute of Theology and Philosophy|Milltown Institute]], [[St Patrick's, Carlow College]] and [[All Hallows College]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pender |first=Suzanne |date=2020-01-31 |title=Fr Paul Dempsey is Carlow's first bishop in more than 130 years |url=https://carlow-nationalist.ie/2020/01/31/fr-paul-dempsey-is-carlows-first-bishop-in-more-than-130-years/ |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=Carlow Nationalist |language=en-US}}</ref>

He was [[Holy orders in the Catholic Church|ordained a priest]] for the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin|Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin]] on 6 July 1997.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCaughley |first=Ciara |date=2020-08-30 |title=Episcopal Ordination of new Bishop of Achonry in Ballaghaderreen this afternoon |url=https://roscommonherald.ie/2020/08/30/episcopal-ordination-of-new-bishop-of-achonry-in-ballaghaderreen-this-afternoon/ |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=Roscommon Herald |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Presbyteral ministry == Following ordination, Dempsey's first pastoral appointment was as a [[curate]] in [[Clane]] and [[Rathcoffey]]. Seven years later, he was appointed curate in [[Kildare]], and simultaneously as diocesan youth director and director of vocations. During his time as diocesan youth director, Dempsey organised two [[World Youth Day]] pilgrimages in [[World Youth Day 2005|2005]] and [[World Youth Day 2008|2008]]. It was during his curacy in Kildare that he also started writing a weekly article in the ''[[Leinster Leader]]'' and presenting ''Religion Matters'', a religious and social affairs program on [[Kfm (Ireland)|Kfm]].

Dempsey returned to the Milltown Institute for further studies, completing a [[Master of Theology|master's degree in theology]] in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-01-27 |title=Fr Paul Dempsey to be new Bishop of Achonry |url=https://www.irishcatholic.com/fr-paul-dempsey-to-be-new-bishop-of-achonry/ |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=The Irish Catholic |language=en-US}}</ref> His thesis examined whether the Catholic Church in contemporary Ireland was a church in crisis or one in question.<ref>{{Cite web |last=MacDonald |first=Sarah |date=2020-01-27 |title=Pope Francis appoints Fr Paul Dempsey as the new Bishop of Achonry |url=https://www.catholicireland.net/pope-francis-appoints-fr-paul-dempsey-new-bishop-achonry/ |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=CatholicIreland.net |language=en-US}}</ref>

Dempsey was appointed to the parish cluster of [[Naas]], [[Sallins]] and Two Mile House in 2009, before moving to [[Newbridge, County Kildare|Newbridge]] in August 2014, when he was also appointed [[Dean (Christianity)|vicar forane]] for the North deanery. The following year, Dempsey was appointed parish priest in Newbridge and simultaneously [[Administrator (of ecclesiastical property)|administrator]] in [[Caragh]] and [[Prosperous, County Kildare|Prosperous]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hogan |first=Senan |date=6 February 2020 |title=INTERVIEW: Kildare's Fr Paul Dempsey, the new Bishop of Achonry, on his new job, celibacy and women in the church |url=https://www.leinsterleader.ie/news/news/515198/interview-kildares-fr-paul-dempsey-the-new-bishop-of-achonry-on-his-new-job-celibacy-and-women-in-the-church.html |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=Leinster Leader |language=en}}</ref>

In a December 2010 article for ''[[The Furrow]]'' on being a priest in modern Ireland, Dempsey wrote that "the Church community needs to enter into a period of deep reflection", adding that it would be "refreshing to see some leadership around this 'reflection' culminating in some form of national Church gathering", and noting his awareness of major issues in the church, such as the role of women and the appointment of bishops.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Dempsey |first=Paul |date=December 2010 |title=Being a Priest in Ireland Today — a young priest's view |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/29765041 |journal=[[The Furrow]] |volume=61 |issue=12 |pages=667–676 |jstor=29765041 }}</ref>

== Episcopal ministry ==

=== Bishop of Achonry === Dempsey was appointed [[Bishop of Achonry|Bishop-elect of Achonry]] by [[Pope Francis]] on 27 January 2020,<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=McGarry |first=Patsy |date=27 January 2020 |title=Kildare priest appointed new Catholic bishop in west of Ireland |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/kildare-priest-appointed-new-catholic-bishop-in-west-of-ireland-1.4152742 |access-date=2023-02-22 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=27 January 2020 |title=New bishop appointed to Diocese of Achonry |url=https://www.con-telegraph.ie/2020/01/27/new-bishop-appointed-to-diocese-of-achonry/ |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=Connaught Telegraph |language=en-US}}</ref> the first Carlow-born bishop to be appointed since [[Michael Comerford]] as [[coadjutor bishop]] of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin|Kildare and Leighlin]] in 1888.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pender |first=Suzanne |date=2020-01-31 |title=Fr Paul Dempsey is Carlow's first bishop in more than 130 years |url=https://carlow-nationalist.ie/2020/01/31/fr-paul-dempsey-is-carlows-first-bishop-in-more-than-130-years/ |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=Carlow Nationalist |language=en-US}}</ref>

His episcopal ordination was initially scheduled to take place on 19 April, but was rescheduled on 17 June due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rescheduled date announced for the Episcopal Ordination of Father Paul Dempsey, Bishop-elect of Achonry |url=https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2020/06/17/rescheduled-date-announced-for-the-episcopal-ordination-of-father-paul-dempsey-bishop-elect-of-achonry/ |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=28 March 2020 |title=Virus outbreak delays ordination of Bishop |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/sligochampion/news/virus-outbreak-delays-ordination-of-bishop-39057945.html |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=The Sligo Champion |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Duggan |first=Marian |date=2020-06-17 |title=New date for bishop's ordination |url=https://westernpeople.ie/2020/06/17/new-date-for-bishops-ordination/ |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=Western People |language=en-GB}}</ref> Dempsey was eventually consecrated by the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tuam|Archbishop of Tuam]], [[Michael Neary (bishop)|Michael Neary]], on 30 August in the [[Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Nathy, Ballaghaderreen|Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Nathy]], [[Ballaghaderreen]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-08-30 |title=Fr Paul Dempsey to be ordained as bishop this afternoon |url=https://kildare-nationalist.ie/2020/08/30/former-newbridge-pp-to-be-ordained-as-bishop-this-afternoon/ |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=Kildare Nationalist |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Media information for the Episcopal Ordination of Bishop-elect Paul Dempsey |url=https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2020/08/27/media-information-for-the-episcopal-ordination-of-bishop-elect-paul-dempsey/ |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hearns |first=Orla |date=2020-08-30 |title=New bishop ordained at unique socially-distanced ceremony in Ballaghaderreen |url=https://westernpeople.ie/2020/08/30/newly-ordained-bishop-paul-dempsey-shares-vision-for-achonry-diocese/ |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=Western People |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In response to a document published by the [[Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith|Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith]] in March 2021, Dempsey released a statement on 26 March 2021 in which he referred to language in the document banning blessings for same-sex couples as "hurtful".<ref>{{Cite news |last=McGarry |first=Patsy |date=26 March 2021 |title=Vatican language on gay blessings 'hurtful', says Ireland's youngest Catholic bishop |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/vatican-language-on-gay-blessings-hurtful-says-ireland-s-youngest-catholic-bishop-1.4521262 |access-date=2023-02-22 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Dodd |first1=Liz |last2=MacDonald |first2=Sarah |title=Priests take aim at 'outdated' CDF on LGBT+ people |url=https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/14001/priests-take-aim-at-outdated-cdf-on-lgbt-people |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=The Tablet |language=en}}</ref>

In his Lenten [[pastoral letter]] in 2023, he expressed his concerns about falling vocations to the priesthood, revealing that there hadn't been an ordination in the diocese since 2013, and no more than twelve priests would be serving in the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Achonry|Diocese of Achonry]] in ten years' time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Deering |first=Paul |date=2023-02-24 |title=Bishop of Achonry says crisis in vocations very real with no ordination in his diocese in ten years |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/sligo/news/bishop-of-achonry-says-crisis-in-vocations-very-real-with-no-ordination-in-his-diocese-in-ten-years/42357722.html |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=The Sligo Champion |language=en}}</ref>

=== Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin === In response to a wider reorganisation of diocesan church leadership in the [[ecclesiastical province]] of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tuam|Tuam]], Dempsey was appointed [[auxiliary bishop]] of [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin|Dublin]] and [[titular bishop]] of [[Diocese of Sita|Sita]] by Pope Francis on 10 April 2024. The [[Bishop of Elphin]], [[Kevin Doran]], was subsequently appointed as [[Apostolic administration|apostolic administrator]] ''[[sede vacante]]'' of the Diocese of Achonry.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 April 2024 |title=Nomina di Vescovo Ausiliare di Dublin (Irlanda) |trans-title=Appointment of Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin (Ireland) |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2024/04/10/0288/00616.html#ausiliare |access-date=14 April 2024 |website=Holy See Press Office |language=it-IT}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mac Donald |first=Sarah |date=2024-04-10 |title=Pope Francis announces biggest restructuring of the Catholic church in Ireland in 900 years |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/pope-francis-announces-biggest-restructuring-of-the-catholic-church-in-ireland-in-900-years/a674763480.html |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=Irish Independent |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brady |first=Chai |date=2024-04-10 |title=Pope announces seismic changes for dioceses in the West not seen for 1,000 years |url=https://www.irishcatholic.com/pope-announces-seismic-changes-for-dioceses-in-the-west-not-seen-for-1000-years/ |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=The Irish Catholic |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 April 2024 |title=Appointment of Bishop Paul Dempsey as Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin – Statement of Archbishop Farrell |url=https://dublindiocese.ie/appointment-of-bishop-paul-dempsey/ |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=Archdiocese of Dublin |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Deering |first=Paul |date=2024-04-10 |title=Bishop of Elphin Kevin Doran to assume additional role in Achonry diocese |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/sligo/news/bishop-of-elphin-kevin-doran-to-assume-additional-role-in-achonry-diocese/a1531899369.html |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=The Sligo Champion |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Coppen |first=Luke |date=2024-04-10 |title=How Pope Francis is reshaping the Church in western Ireland |url=https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/how-pope-francis-is-reshaping-the |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=The Pillar |language=en}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

== External links == * [https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bdempseyp.html Bishop Paul Dempsey] on [[Catholic-Hierarchy.org]] * [http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/acho0.htm?tab=bishops#63557 Bishop Paul Dempsey] on GCatholic {{Roman Catholic dioceses in Ireland}} {{Roman Catholic Bishops of Achonry}}

{{Subject bar |portal1= Biography |portal2= Catholicism |portal3= Ireland}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dempsey, Paul}} [[Category:Christian clergy from County Carlow]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1971 births]] [[Category:Alumni of Milltown Institute of Theology and Philosophy]] [[Category:Alumni of All Hallows College, Dublin]] [[Category:Alumni of Carlow College]] [[Category:21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in Ireland]] [[Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Achonry]] [[Category:People from Athy]] [[Category:Christian clergy from County Kildare]] [[Category:Bishops appointed by Pope Francis]] [[Category:Irish Roman Catholic titular bishops]] [[Category:Auxiliary bishops of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin]]