Chai Brady
Bishop Christopher Jones Late prelate’s care for poor and marginalised will be greatly missed, writes Chai Brady
The Primate of All-Ireland has honoured the late bishop of Elphin saying he lived a life of “commitment, fidelity, service and love for the people”.
Archbishop Eamon Martin said he was saddened to hear about the death of Bishop Christopher Jones in his home last Friday.
“I shall never forget the warmth of his welcome to me upon my own ordination as a bishop five years ago; the encouragement and support he gave me is typical of this generous and devout servant of God,” he said.
Bishop Jones served as a member of Ireland’s Bishops’ Conference for nine years as chair of the Episcopal Commission and Department for Pastoral Care, and for many years as chair of the Bishops’ Committee for Family Welfare and Children and was instrumental in the foundation of the Bishops’ Council for Marriage and the Family, on which he served as its first chairman. From 2010 to 2014 Bishop Jones also served as President of Accord, the Catholic Marriage Care Service.
“Bishop Christy was a man for others, and was very committed throughout his lifetime to person-centred social services. Throughout his ministry, Bishop Christy also showed a great affinity and pastoral dedication to the travelling community, and the mutual warmth between both was very evident during the 50th International Eucharistic Congress held in Dublin in 2012,” said Archbishop Martin.
Religious life
Dr Jones was 56 years in the priesthood, and served as a bishop for 24.
A native of Rathcroghan, Co. Roscommon, Christopher Jones was born on March 3, 1936, the second youngest of a family of 11. Four of his sisters entered religious life and one of his brothers was also a priest of the Diocese of Elphin. He completed his formation in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth and was ordained to the priesthood on June 21, 1962.
Dr Jones spent the vast majority of his priestly ministry in Sligo, apart from serving for three years on the staff of St Muredach’s College in Ballina.
He returned to Sligo to teach at Summerhill College in 1965, and in 1971 spent a year as an archivist at St Mary’s while also serving as chaplain of St Columba’s Hospital.
After completing a diploma in Social Administration in UCD Dr Jones was appointed Director of Sligo Social Services and established a co-ordinated Faith response to those on the margins of society.
In that capacity he formed life-long friendships with homeless people and with many members of the travelling community.
Commenting on his care for the poor, his successor Bishop Kevin Doran of the Diocese of Elphin said: “Up to the time of his retirement in July 2014, he worked tirelessly in the service of God and of the people of God, in this Diocese and further afield.”
“He will be remembered by many for the way in which he put flesh on the Gospel through his care for and friendship with those who were poor and most at risk in our society.”
He added that in recent months the former bishop appreciated short visits from colleagues and friends, who kept him up to date on happenings in the diocese.
“May he now experience the friendship of Jesus Christ and of all the saints, especially Ss Eithne and Fidelma, St Asicus and all the many holy men and women of our own Diocese who have gone ahead of him.”
After serving as the curate at Rosses Point for six years he was appointed administrator of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
In 1994 he succeeded Dr Dominic Conway and was ordained bishop on August 15 that year, the Solemnity of the Assumption.
Dr Jones was known for caring strongly about the development of education in the diocese, and a highlight of his ministry was the development of a new campus for the College of the Immaculate Conception in the county – where he had studied in his teens and taught in the 1960s.
At the opening of the new campus Dr Jones said: “There is a temptation today in contemporary Irish discourse to dismiss religious belief as somewhat inherently irrational and divisive and even anti-intellectual.
“The most important principle underpinning Catholic education is the value placed on this ongoing dialogue between Faith and reason. It is this principle which helps to explain the unique value of Catholic schools.”
In 2016, The Bishop Christopher Jones Learning Centre was opened for students with autism in his honour.
The appointment of Dr Jones in 1994 coincided with the first criminal investigations of clerical child abuse. From then, until his retirement 20 years later, Dr Jones devoted a very significant amount of time and energy into developing policies and procedures for safeguarding in the Diocese of Elphin.
During his years as bishop, the Diocesan Safeguarding Office was established.
Advocate
Dr Jones was also an active advocate for the Travelling community both as a priest and bishop. He campaigned for improved Traveller accommodation and increased education opportunities, and for many years acted as chairperson of the National Council for the Travelling people and Advisor to the Minister for the Environment.
In January 2013, Dr Jones also represented the Irish Catholic Bishops at the hearings of the Oireachtas Committee for Health and Children, where he was a powerful advocate for the life of the unborn.
During the hearing he said: ”Any suggestion that Ireland is an unsafe place for pregnant mothers because we do not have abortion is a complete distortion of the truth. It is also gravely unjust to the doctors, nurses and midwives in our hospitals who have achieved such internationally celebrated standards of maternity care”.
Dr Jones retired as bishop on July 13, 2014. After the loss of his four sisters and the serious decline of his own health during the same period, he showed great courage and resilience maintaining his interest in the diocese and the wider Church.
The administrator of the Diocese of Achonry, Fr Dermot Meehan, said Dr Jones’ death “leaves a significant gap in the life of western dioceses”.
“As a former bishop of our neighbouring diocese, his friendship was deeply valued and sustaining. His untiring witness to outreach to the poor and marginalised was truly a blessing to many and an example to all.”
The removal of Bishop Jones’ remains arrived at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Sligo at 8 pm on Monday, May 21. His coffin was carried in procession from St Mary’s Presbytery by four groups of Pall Bearers: priests and deacons of the Diocese of Elphin, Knights of Saint Columbanus and members of the Jones’ family, who carried Bishop Jones’ coffin to the altar. Following the removal liturgy there was a time of silent prayer, concluding with a Night Prayer of the Church at 9.40 pm.