Hugh Connolly (priest)

Hugh Gerard Connolly BA, BD, STL, STD, is the current Aumônier des Irlandais, Collège des Irlandais, Paris and a former President of St Patrick's College, Maynooth, Ireland.

Early life

Born in September 1961, Father Hugh Connolly is a native of Burren near Warrenpoint, Co Down and is a priest of the Diocese of Dromore with the ecclesiastical title Monsignor.[1]

Career

Father Connolly was schooled at the Abbey Grammar in Newry before commencing his studies for the priesthood in Maynooth, gaining a BA(Honours)(NUI) degree in French before studying Theology degree BD(Maynooth), he was ordained in Maynooth in May 1987. He completed postgraduate doctoral studies in moral theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome in 1991.[2]

Rev. Dr. Connolly worked as a lecturer in Moral Theology in Maynooth, becoming Professor in 2007, he has also lectured in St. Patrick's, Carlow College.

He was Executive Secretary of the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference from 1991 to 1997. He published a book on The Irish Penitentials in 1995[3] and in 2002 published the volume Sin in the "New Century Theology" series.[4]

He served as Registrar (2001–2006) at the Pontifical University Maynooth and as Vice President of St Patrick's College (1999-2007). On 10 August 2007, the Trustees of St Patrick's College, Maynooth, announced the appointment of Father Connolly as President of the College.[2] He was reappointed for a second term on 29 May 2012 at the summer meeting of the College Trustees.[5]

In March 2011 Connolly denied rumors that Maynooth Seminary may be closing. "Media reports today about the possible closure of the seminary are without foundation. The media outlet leading with this incorrect story was sent a reply from us yesterday and its absence from the published copy is disappointing and damaging".[6] A year later when the Summary of the finding of the Apostolic Visitation in Ireland was published there was in fact no reference whatever to seminary closures.[7] In his capacity as Rector of the National Seminary Connolly spoke frequently on the vocations question in Ireland.[8]

Connolly also sought to raise the international profile of the Pontifical University at Maynooth and served as one of two board members for the Continent of Europe on IFCU the umbrella body for rectors of Catholic Universities worldwide.[9]

In June 2016 it was announced that Connolly was taking a Sabbatical year for the final year of his statutory ten-year term as President which concluded on 31 August 2017.[10] Several months later advertisements were placed seeking a new College President, to assume office on 1 September 2017. He was succeeded in the post by Fr Michael Mullaney. In March 2017 Hugh Connolly was appointed Chaplain designate at the Irish College Paris or 'Aumônier, Collège des Irlandais', effective 1 September 2017. He had previously served as a board member of this historic institution for ten years during its renovation and relaunch as a Cultural Centre and chaplaincy.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Bishops' Conference, Irish (2015). Irish Catholic Directory 2015 (2015 ed.). Dublin: Veritas Publications. p. 168. ISBN 9781847305794. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  2. 1 2 "St Patrick's College appoints new President". RTÉ. August 10, 2007. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  3. ↑ Connolly, Hugh (1995). The Irish Penitentials. Dublin: Four Courts Press. ISBN 978-1851821617. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  4. ↑ Connolly, Hugh (2001). Sin (1 ed.). London: Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 978-0826451842. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  5. ↑ Leinster Leader 6 June 2012
  6. ↑ "Dolan to recommend closure of Maynooth: Report | CathNewsUSA". CathNewsUSA. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
  7. ↑ Visitation, Apostolic. "Summary of the Findings of the Apostolic Visitation in Ireland". http://www.vatican.va. Holy See. Retrieved 16 February 2016. External link in |website= (help)
  8. ↑ Kane, Conor. "Maynooth gets 17 new seminarians". www.irishtimes.com. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
  9. ↑ Secretariat, IFCU. "IFCU Board of Administration 2015 to 2018". www.fiuc.org. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  10. ↑ http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/clarification-monsignor-connolly-34866304.html
  11. ↑ http://www.irishtimes.com/news/troubled-passage-of-irish-college-into-cultural-centre-1.309240



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