Bishop Martin Hayes to celebrate Thurles Masses in first official visit

The last weekend in June will be a very special one in the life of Bishop Martin Hayes, a native of Two-Mile-Borris, Thurles and a man who spent many years working in the Cathedral Town parish where he made such an enormous contribution and impact.

Indeed, the Bishop of Kilmore is a former Administrator of the parish and was centrally involved in the refurbishment of the Cathedral of the Assumption, St Joseph and St Brigid’s Church, Bóthar na Naomh, and the two parish presbyteries.

Although he has been back to Thurles on several occasions following his appointment by Pope Francis as Bishop of Kilmore in 2020, this will be his first official visit, and to mark the occasion several celebrations are planned. Bishop Martin will celebrate the 7pm.

Mass in the Cathedral on Saturday, June 29, and the 10am. Mass in Bóthar na Naomh Church on Sunday, June 30.
And the expectation is that there will be large attendances at both Masses, which will be followed by refreshments and a chance to catch up witha man who was a great friend to many in Thurles parish.

Bishop Martin received his primary school education at Saint Kevin’s NationalSchool, Littleton and secondary school education in CBS, Thurles. 

However, the priesthood was not always on his radar and in September 1977, he began his studies in Production Engineering at NIHE Limerick, now the University of Limerick. 

As part of the course programme, he worked at Wyeth Ireland in Askeaton, Co Limerick (1979) and at Ecco Ltd in Dundalk, county Louth (1980). 

He graduated in 1981with a BSc in Manufacturing Technology. 

In November 1981, he took up a position as a quality engineer with Amdahl Computers in Swords, Dublin, completing his initial orientation with the parent plant in Silicon Valley, California, where he was given responsibility for setting up quality control systems for new products.

During his studies in Limerick, Bishop Martin became involved in Muintearas Íosa, a youth faith initiative which continues to keep the three flames of Fáilte (welcome), Foghlaim (learning) and Guí (prayer) alive in the diocese.

He was instrumental in organising Muintearas Íosa events in Dublin and in his native Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly in the early 1980s.

A change of direction came in his life, when in September 1983, Father Martin entered Saint Patrick’s College, Thurles, to study for the priesthood in the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. 

Having completed a Certificate in Philosophical Studies and a Diploma in Theology, he was ordained deacon on April 4, 1988, and to priesthood on June 10, 1989, by Archbishop Dermot Clifford, who was Archbishop of Cashel and Emly at the time.
Father Martin undertook further studies at the Gregorian University, Rome, and completed a Licentiate in Philosophy (Anthropology) in 1991 while staying at the Pontifical Irish College. 

He was then appointed to the teaching staff at Saint Patrick’s College, Thurles, and taught philosophy until 2001.

During this period of his ministry, Father Martin worked as a marriage preparation course facilitator with Accord, served as its Diocesan Director with the personnel of the Thurles andTipperary centres, and established an administrative office to coordinate Accord’s activities. 

In 1997, he was appointed Bursar at Saint Patrick’s College, Thurles.  As part of diocesan millennium initiatives and in cooperation with the then Mid-Western Health Board, Father Martin was instrumental in setting up SUAS (Suicide: Understanding and Support) – a listening service for those bereaved by suicide.

Throughout his time at Saint Patrick’s College, he worked in parishes in the Diocese of Sacramento, California, during the summer months.

In August 2001, Father Martin undertook a sabbatical year studying at the Jesuit School of Theology, Berkeley, California, and separately at Tabgha Farm – Centre for Ecology and Spirituality, located in Cessnock, New South Wales, Australia.  Then, in September 2002, Father Martin was appointed as curate to Thurles Parish with responsibility for Saints Joseph and Brigid Church, Bothar na Naomh. 

He resumed his facilitation of marriage preparation courses with Accord Thurles, servedon the Accord National Executive Council and provided supervisory support for Accord personnel in the south-east region. 

He became an active member of the Cashel and Emly Ongoing Formation and Education of Priests Committee from its inception in 2003.

Father Martin worked as a part-time lecturer in Introduction to Philosophy on the newly established Bachelor of Arts in Education, Business Studies and Religious Studies course for secondary school student teachers, which was delivered at Saints Patrick’s College, Thurles. 

He also engaged with the two-year Ecology and Theology programme provided by the Columban Fathers, in Dalgan Park, Navan, county Meath, on an audit basis.

In July 2007, Father Martin was appointed Administrator of the Cathedral of the Assumption, Thurles. 

Working in collaboration with a group of lay people, he encouraged the celebration of relationships with the established voluntary organisations in Thurles, promoting the ongoing development of pastoral outreach and faith development groups which culminated in the formation of a Parish Pastoral Council in 2017. 

During Father Martin’s term as Administrator, Saints Joseph and Brigid’s Church, Bothar na Naomh was renovated, a Pastoral Centre (Lámh Chunta) was constructed and the cathedral presbytery was refurbished. 

Father Martin was elected a member of the Cashel and Emly Council of Priests, having previously served as its recording secretary and was appointed as a member of the diocesan committee forsafeguarding children.

Father Martin co-ordinated preparations for the Episcopal installation of Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly SMA at the Cathedral of the Assumption, Thurles, on February 8, 2015. 

Elected chairman of the new Council of Priests, and re-elected in 2020, Father Martin became involved as a member of the newly established Diocesan Pastoral Council. 

He was also a member of the Seinn Diocesan Committee, whichpromotes and organises liturgical singing and music events involving the secondary school students at the cathedral.

In August 2017, Father Martin was appointed to the full-time position of Director of Pastoral Planning and Development in the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, and he took up residence at the Parochial House, Knockanrawley, Tipperary Town. 

In conjunction with the Diocesan Pastoral Council, he co-ordinated the diocesan-wide Listening Process with 46 parishes over 2017-18, alongside a Listening to Priests commissioned by the Archdiocese. 

In preparation for the ninth World Meeting of Families (WMoF) and the visit of Pope Francis to Ireland in 2018, Father Martin served as a delegate for the diocese, and this involved chairing its WMoF Diocesan Committee, organising a Diocesan Family Fun Day, producing a Family Prayer Booklet and co-ordinating diocesan liturgies.

After WMoF, Father Martin’s focus returned to the diocesan consultation as the outcomes of both listening processes became the subject of ongoing discussion with priests and parish groups at Gatherings of Parishes throughout 2019. 

This has resulted in the establishment of necessary support for priests and interim training for parish leadership groups. 
A draft pastoral plan was formulated in Spring 2020, and feedback is currently being processed with a view to implementing a Diocesan Pastoral Plan for parishes over the years 2020-2025.

Pope Francis appointed him as Bishop of Kilmore on the Solemnity of SS. Peter and Paul, Monday, June 29, 2020.

He was ordained bishop in the Cathedral of SS. Patrick and Felim in Cavan on Sunday, September 20, 2020 at 3pm. by Archbishop Eamonn Martin of Armagh and the Primate of All-Ireland, assisted by the Papal Nuncio to Ireland, Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo, and Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly SMA of Cashel and Emly as co-consecrators.  

Bishop Martin Hayes is pictured with Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly, SMA, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, when he returned to his home parish of Moycarkey Borris to celebrate Mass in the three churches where he received a great welcome.