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Bishop
Philip Boyce |
THE CATHOLIC
DIOCESE OF RAPHOE |
Most
Reverend Philip
Boyce D.D., O.C.D.
Bishop
of Raphoe
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Philip Boyce was born on the 25th January 1940 and comes from
Downings, Co Donegal. Educated at Derryhassen school in Meevagh
(Downings) parish and at Castlemartyr College, Co. Cork.
He
joined the noviciate of the Discalced Carmelites in Loughrea, Co.
Galway, making his first profession in 1959. Having completed
philosophical studies in Dublin, he studied theology at the Teresianum
in Rome, where he was ordained on the 17th April 1966. He
received a doctorate in theology (D.D.) in 1977 with a dissertation on
the Spirituality of Cardinal John Henry Newman.
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During
his twenty years on the teaching staff of the Pontifical Theological Faculty of
the Carmelites in Rome, he taught spirituality and dogmatic theology, and for
many years was engaged in the work of formation of students preparing for the
priesthood or doing postgraduate studies.
Bishop
Boyce was ordained Bishop of Raphoe on the 1st October 1995 in the
Cathedral of Ss. Eunan and Colmcille, Letterkenny.
His
Motto
“In the Service of Mother Church” is of Carmelite origin. It
sums up the mission he sees entrusted to him in the Episcopal ministry: one of
service to the people of God in the diocese of Raphoe and to the whole family of
the Church.
He
is a member of various Episcopal Commissions. He had been a consultor of the
Congregation for the causes of Saints from 1985 to 1995. In May 1999 the Holy
Father appointed him a member of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the
Discipline of the Sacraments.
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The
Crest of Bishop Boyce
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We
have a divisal of arms for the bishop impaled with the arms of the
diocese of Raphoe. The latter, like in most Irish dioceses, originated
in the Middle Ages. The sun is traditionally a symbol of God in many
religions, including that of the celts. However it is also a symbol of
Christ for our Christian faith: the Redeemer was foretold as a ‘rising
Sun of righteousness’ (Cf. Mal. 4:2, Lk. 1:78). The red Cross is
one of the many forms of the chief Christian symbol of salvation. The
ermine symbolises royalty. |
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A
diagonal line from the top left-hand corner to the bottom right divides Bishop
Boyce’s shield. On the division line there is a bend on which we have, between
two roses, a cross that is crossed at three of its four points, with the fourth
and bottom point shaped in the form of a point. The dominant colours are blue (a
Marian colour, signifying loyalty and truth) and red (indicating willingness to
give one’s life for Christ). On the top right there is an open book with the
word ‘Paulus’. On the bottom left above the waves of the sea, there is a
flying dove. Occupying the top left-hand corner there is a canton or square
division in gold with a monogram of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The
open book of Sacred Scripture represents the revealed word of God, entrusted by
Christ to the Apostles and their successors. The word ‘Paulus’ reminds us of
an outstanding apostle and preacher of the word of God. The Cross of Tír
Chonaill denotes the county from which the new bishop comes. The dove depicted
in flight symbolises St. Colmcille’s missionary journey to Iona bringing the
Good News of the Gospel across the seas. The two roses symbolise St. Therese of
the Child Jesus, she was a member of the religious Order that Bishop Boyce
belongs to. The monogram ‘M’ represents Our Lady who is the Queen of the
Apostles, Mother of Ireland. It is taken from one of the glass mosaics over the
transept porch doors of the Cathedral.
The
Motto “IN ECCLESIAE MATRIS SERVITIUM”,
also of Carmelite origin, sums up the mission not only of every consecrated
person but in a special way the Episcopal ministry entrusted to Bishop Boyce.