He was the second youngest son of Mary (née Murphy) and David O'Riordan and he was born in Effin, County Limerick, Ireland.[2] His father managed a creamery in Kilmallock. His mother was a school teacher. He had eight brothers and sisters, two of whom became also priests.[2]
In 1953, he was sent to Sierra Leone where he began a ministry that would last for almost 50 years.[2]
As a young priest, he drove along the dirt roads to remote villages where he got to know the residents and said Mass with them.[2] He developed relationships with the local paramount chiefs and elders and soon came to see Sierra Leone as a place where he had always belonged.[2]
His practical approach involved training community workers as well as the establishment of hospitals, schools and pastoral centers.[2] He was often involved with every aspect of the building process from mixing concrete to physical construction.[2]
A skilled diplomat, he deftly navigated an interfaith community in which Christians were the minority.[2]
Bishop of Kenema
He was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Kenema on June 4, 1984, and consecrated December 2, 1984.[2]
Affectionately known as Bishop Johnny in the local community.,[2] he ordained more than twelve Sierra Leonean priests during his tenure.[1]
Bishop Johnny continued his ministry in Sierra Leone during the civil war with mass killings, mass rape, torture and the recruitment of child soldiers became widespread.[2] He was an outspoken critic of the war and vociferously urged top officials in the military to put an end to the killing.[2]
When the war ended in 2002, over 50 000 people had been killed.[2]
Honors
In 2001, Bishop O'Riordan was award Sierra Leone's Commander of the Order of Rokel (COR), the country's highest honor for outstanding pastoral and humanitarian services.[1][2]
Later Ministry
Describing Bishop Johnny's ministry, a Sierra Leone-born priest said, “He stood with us in war and walked with us in peace.”[2]
In 2002 Bishop Johnny retired to Ireland on 26 April 2002.[1]
Death
He died peacefully at the age of 92 at Marian House in Dublin, Ireland on 22 November 2016.[2] His funeral was held on 25 November 2016 at Church of The Holy Spirit, Kimmage Manor, Dublin.[2] He is buried in the Spiritan plot in Dardistown, County Dublin.[2]
Memorial in Sierra Leone
Bishop O'Riordan remains a beloved figure in Sierra Leone.[3] On 10 February 2017, the Diocese of Kenema invited clergy from across the nation to celebrate a memorial Mass in Bishop Johnny's honor.
Edward Charles, Archbishop of Freetown gave the Eucharist and Bishop Aruna, Auxiliary Bishop of Kenema paid tribute to Bishop O'Riordan's life and ministry in the homily.
References
^ abcd"A Brief History of the Catholic Church in Sierra Leone". Catholic Bishop's Conference of Sierra Leone. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstu"Obituary: Bishop John O'Riordan". The Irish Times. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
^"Bishop John O'Riordan Passes On". Catholic Bishop's Conference of Sierra Leone. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
john, riordan, most, reverend, bishop, emeritus, january, 1924, november, 2016, bishop, catholic, diocese, kenema, sierra, leone, john, riordanc, corbishop, emeritus, diocese, kenemachurchst, paul, cathedraldiocesekenemaseekenemaelectedjune, 1984in, officedece. The Most Reverend John C O Riordan Bishop Emeritus C S Sp COR 6 January 1924 22 November 2016 was Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Kenema in Sierra Leone 1 John C O RiordanC S Sp CORBishop Emeritus of the Diocese of KenemaChurchSt Paul s CathedralDioceseKenemaSeeKenemaElectedJune 4 1984In officeDecember 2 1984RetiredApril 26 2002PredecessorJoseph Henry GandaSuccessorPatrick Daniel KoromaOther post s Prelate President of Inter territorial Catholic Bishops Conference of The Gambia and Sierra LeoneOrdersOrdinationJune 29 1952Consecrationby Archbishop Joseph Henry GandaPersonal detailsBornJohn Christopher O Riordan Effin County Limerick IrelandDiedDublin IrelandBuriedDardistown Dublin IrelandNationalityIrishDenominationRoman Catholic ChurchParentsDavid O Riordan and Mary MurphyProfessionCatholic PriestAlma materBlackrock College Kilshane NovitiateStyles of John C O RiordanReference styleHis Excellency The Most ReverendSpoken styleYour ExcellencyReligious styleBishop Contents 1 Early life 2 Priestly life 2 1 Ministry in Sierra Leone 2 2 Bishop of Kenema 2 3 Sierra Leone Civil War 3 Honors 4 Later Ministry 5 Death 5 1 Memorial in Sierra Leone 6 References 7 External linksEarly life EditHe was the second youngest son of Mary nee Murphy and David O Riordan and he was born in Effin County Limerick Ireland 2 His father managed a creamery in Kilmallock His mother was a school teacher He had eight brothers and sisters two of whom became also priests 2 From 1937 to 1943 he boarded in County Dublin at Blackrock College founded and administered by the Spiritan Order 2 Priestly life EditHe entered the Holy Ghost Fathers at Kilshane Novitiate in Tipperary in 1943 2 His ordination took place in 1952 2 Ministry in Sierra Leone Edit In 1953 he was sent to Sierra Leone where he began a ministry that would last for almost 50 years 2 As a young priest he drove along the dirt roads to remote villages where he got to know the residents and said Mass with them 2 He developed relationships with the local paramount chiefs and elders and soon came to see Sierra Leone as a place where he had always belonged 2 His practical approach involved training community workers as well as the establishment of hospitals schools and pastoral centers 2 He was often involved with every aspect of the building process from mixing concrete to physical construction 2 A skilled diplomat he deftly navigated an interfaith community in which Christians were the minority 2 Bishop of Kenema Edit He was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Kenema on June 4 1984 and consecrated December 2 1984 2 Affectionately known as Bishop Johnny in the local community 2 he ordained more than twelve Sierra Leonean priests during his tenure 1 From 1992 to 1995 he served as President of Inter territorial Catholic Bishops Conference of The Gambia and Sierra Leone Sierra Leone Civil War Edit The Sierra Leone Civil War began in 1991 when the Revolutionary United Front attempted to overthrown Joseph Saidu Momoh then president Bishop Johnny continued his ministry in Sierra Leone during the civil war with mass killings mass rape torture and the recruitment of child soldiers became widespread 2 He was an outspoken critic of the war and vociferously urged top officials in the military to put an end to the killing 2 When the war ended in 2002 over 50 000 people had been killed 2 Honors EditIn 2001 Bishop O Riordan was award Sierra Leone s Commander of the Order of Rokel COR the country s highest honor for outstanding pastoral and humanitarian services 1 2 Later Ministry EditDescribing Bishop Johnny s ministry a Sierra Leone born priest said He stood with us in war and walked with us in peace 2 In 2002 Bishop Johnny retired to Ireland on 26 April 2002 1 Death EditHe died peacefully at the age of 92 at Marian House in Dublin Ireland on 22 November 2016 2 His funeral was held on 25 November 2016 at Church of The Holy Spirit Kimmage Manor Dublin 2 He is buried in the Spiritan plot in Dardistown County Dublin 2 Memorial in Sierra Leone Edit Bishop O Riordan remains a beloved figure in Sierra Leone 3 On 10 February 2017 the Diocese of Kenema invited clergy from across the nation to celebrate a memorial Mass in Bishop Johnny s honor Edward Charles Archbishop of Freetown gave the Eucharist and Bishop Aruna Auxiliary Bishop of Kenema paid tribute to Bishop O Riordan s life and ministry in the homily References Edit a b c d A Brief History of the Catholic Church in Sierra Leone Catholic Bishop s Conference of Sierra Leone Retrieved 6 May 2018 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Obituary Bishop John O Riordan The Irish Times Retrieved 6 May 2018 Bishop John O Riordan Passes On Catholic Bishop s Conference of Sierra Leone Retrieved 6 May 2018 External links EditCatholic Hierarchy Bishop John O Riordan Passes On Obituary Bishop John O RiordanCatholic Church titlesPreceded byJoseph Henry Ganda Bishop of Kenema1984 2002 Succeeded byPatrick Daniel Koroma Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John C O 27Riordan amp oldid 1156786399, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
