The late Bishop of Elphin, Christopher Jones, was today remembered as one who took the lead in establishing what has now become the norm across the country in safeguarding against child abuse.
Those attending his funeral Mass in Sligo this afternoon heard he became a bishop at a most challenging time in the Catholic church’s history as it struggled to respond to abuse victims, their families and to priests.
Bishop Jones was laid to rest this afternoon in the grounds of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, following concelebrated funeral Mass.
A thronged cathedral heard the late Bishop Jones had touched the lives of many people from many different walks of life.
Chief Celebrant of the Mass was the current Bishop of Elphin, Kevin Doran, assisted by the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo, representing Pope Francis, as well as Archbishop Michael neary of Tuam, and Cardinal Sean Brady Archbishop Emeritus of Armagh.
Among Bishop Jones’s family who were present was his sister, Eileen, and nieces, as well as nephews and grand-nephews who were among four teams of pall bearers who carried his coffin.
The homily was preached by Father Michael Duignan, secretary of the Diocese of Elphin.
Fr Duignan said the times in which we live are perhaps among the most challenging the Catholic in Ireland has seen since penal days.
And he said it was in these choppy waters that Bishop Christy was called to lead the church in Elphin.
Fr Duignan also spoke of Bishop Jone’s hope that he would have been be able to vote in this Friday’s referendum;
At the end of the Mass, students from six schools in the diocese formed a Guard of Honour from the cathedral door to be nearby graveside, where Bishop Jones was laid to rest in the late May sunshine in a grave next to that of Dominic Conway, his predecessor as Bishop of Elphin.
