Mary Immaculate College is saddened to learn of the passing of Most Rev. Donal Murray, who served as Chairperson of the MIC Board of Trustees and An tÚdarás Rialaithe from 1996 to 2009.
Bishop Murray was born in Dublin in 1940, attended Blackrock College, Dublin, obtained his BA and Masters in Philosophy at UCD, his B. Div. at Maynooth and his License and Doctorate in Theology at the University of St Thomas, Rome. He was ordained as a priest in 1966.
He lectured extensively in theology and ethical issues, beginning in Mater Dei Institute of Education in 1969 and became Professor of Moral Theology at Clonliffe College in 1970. In addition to the above positions, from 1973 to 1982 he lectured on Cathechetics in UCD, and from 1978 to 1982, he lectured in Medical Ethics in the same institution.
Bishop Murray also authored three books and numerous articles, booklets and in the areas of theology, ethics and social issues.
In 1982, at the age of 41, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin—the youngest member of the Irish hierarchy at that time. Among his many other achievements, he served as advisor to the Irish representatives at the World Synod of Bishops 1977; was a member of the Vatican’s Council for Culture and of four episcopal commissions and was heavily involved in the joint Commission for Bio-Ethical Issues for the Bishops’ Conferences of Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland. In 1996 he was appointed Bishop of Limerick where he remained until his retirement in 2009.
Reflecting on his life, Bishop Brendan Leahy. Bishop of Limerick and Chair of MIC Trustees and An tÚdarás Rialaithe said: “Bishop Murray made an enormous contribution to spiritual nourishment of the people Limerick since his appointment here in 1996 when he became the first priest form outside the diocese to assume the role in 200 years. In particular, he sought to play his part in building a Church of tomorrow and a church for all”. Bishop Leahy also cited the creation of a diocesan pastoral council in 2004 by Bishop Murray, which saw Limerick among the first diocese to take such a move. This was done, he said, to give expression to a renewed understanding of church which recognised the potential for lay people to take on a greater role in the church.
He commended Bishop Murray for his contribution to MIC at a very crucial stage in the College’s development and for a vision that greatly helped to further the aims of the College including the development of arts programmes, postgraduate offerings and a greater emphasis on research as well as approving the appointment of MIC’s first lay president.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
