Ordination of Archbishop Séamus Horgan 27th July 2024

On Saturday 27th July at 11.00am in SS Peter & Paul Cathedral, Ennis, in the presence of his family, fellow Priests, Parishioners, Cardinals, Bishops and Deacons, Monsignor Séamus Horgan from Tobartaoscain was called to serve as a Bishop of the Church and first resident Papal Nuncio to South Sudan.

The Principal Consecrator was Cardinal Pietro Parolin Secretary of State at the Vatican. We welcome His Eminence, Cardinal Parolin to Ennis as well as the Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops who laid hands on Msgr Seamus.

30 years ago in the same Cathedral a young Séamus Horgan was called by the late Bishop Michael Harty to priesthood. For the last 30 years, Msgr Seamus has answered that call to serve in Bodyke, Roscrea, Rome, Uganda, Switzerland, the Philippines and most recently in the United States.

Now the call is to go to South Sudan as the first resident who imposed hands on Papal Nuncio. Please keep Archbishop Séamus in your prayers.

Life and Ministry

Born in Ennis (Ireland) in 1969, Monsignor Séamus Horgan attended the local primary school, before completing his secondary schooling at Saint Flannan’s College, Ennis. He entered Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth in 1987. After completing a BA (National University of Ireland) in 1990 and a Baccalaureate in Theology (Pontifical University, Maynooth) in 1993, he was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Killaloe on 11 June 1994. Following six years of pastoral ministry in his Diocese, he was sent to Rome in the year 2000 for further studies. After completing a Licence in Canon Law (Pontifical Gregorian University), he joined the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in Rome to prepare for the service of the Holy See. Upon completion of his doctoral studies in Canon Law in 2005, he entered the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See and has served in the following capacities: • Attaché and then Secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature in Kampala (2005-2008); • Secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature in Berne (2008-2012); • Secretary and then Counsellor of the Apostolic Nunciature in Manila (2012-2015); • Minutante (Desk Officer) in the II Section of the Secretariat of State in Rome (2015-2020); • First Counsellor at the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington (2020-present). In 2008, he was appointed a Chaplain of His Holiness and in 2019 a Prelate of Honour. Monsignor Horgan speaks English, Italian & French; he has a working knowledge of German.

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