Eugene Nugent
Encyclopedia
Eugene Martin Nugent JCD (born 21 October 1958) is the Apostolic Nuncio to Madagascar
and Apostolic Delegate to the Comoros and to Reunion since 13 February 2010. He had previously served with the rank of Counsellor of Nunciature.
Nugent was born in Gurtaderra Scariff County Clare
, Ireland on 21 October 1958. He attended Clonusker National School and Scariff Community College. He studied for the priesthood in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth where he received a B.A. in Celtic Studies. He then went on to the Pontifical Irish College
, Rome, taking his Baccalaureate in Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University
. He was ordained a priest on 9 July 1983 and incardinated in the diocese of Killaloe
and completed a Licentiate
in Canon Law after ordination. He was appointed as a curate in Ennis
and ministered in the parish from 1984 to 1987. He was called to Rome where from 1988 until 1991, he worked in the Section for General Affairs of the Secretariat of the State. In 1992, he completed his doctorate in canon law at the Gregorian University. In the same year, he graduated from the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy
and entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See
on 1 July 1992. He then worked in the papal diplomatic missions in Turkey
, Jerusalem and the Philippines
. He speaks Irish, English, French, German and Italian.
On 13 February 2010, Pope Benedict XVI
appointed him Apostolic Nuncio to Madagascar
and Apostolic Delegate to the Comoros
(papal representative to the Catholic communities in both countries but accredited only to the government of Madagascar) and Titular Archbishop of Domnach Sechnaill (Dunshaughlin
) County Meath, Ireland. On 11 March 2010, he was named also Apostolic Delegate to Mauritius and Seychelles. Archbishop Nugent was ordained to the episcopacy in Rome on 18 March 2010. The principal consecrator was Tarcisio Bertone, Cardinal Secretary of State
.
As his episcopal motto he chose "Quodcumque dixerit facite" (Do whatever he says), taken from the Gospel of St John 2:5.
Bishop Willie Walsh
, welcoming the news, said, "Archbishop-elect Nugent is a gifted and well respected priest who has given great service to the Diocese of Killaloe and to the Holy See. All of us in the Diocese are filled with joy at the trust that Pope Benedict has placed in him to be his representative to the peoples of Madagascar, La Réunion and the Comoros Islands. I pray that God’s spirit will strengthen him as he takes up his new ministry"
Apostolic Nuncio to Madagascar
The Apostolic Nuncio to Madagascar is the chief representative of the Holy See to the government of Madagascar.-Apostolic Nuncios to Madagascar:*Felice Pirozzi *Paolo Mosconi...
and Apostolic Delegate to the Comoros and to Reunion since 13 February 2010. He had previously served with the rank of Counsellor of Nunciature.
Nugent was born in Gurtaderra Scariff County Clare
County Clare
-History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones...
, Ireland on 21 October 1958. He attended Clonusker National School and Scariff Community College. He studied for the priesthood in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth where he received a B.A. in Celtic Studies. He then went on to the Pontifical Irish College
Pontifical Irish College
The Pontifical Irish College is a Roman Catholic seminary for the training and education of priests, in Rome.-Foundation and early history:Towards the close of the sixteenth century, Pope Gregory XIII had sanctioned the foundation of an Irish college in Rome, and had assigned a large sum of money...
, Rome, taking his Baccalaureate in Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
. He was ordained a priest on 9 July 1983 and incardinated in the diocese of Killaloe
Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe
The Diocese of Killaloe is a Roman Catholic diocese in mid-western Ireland. It is one of six suffragan dioceses in the ecclesiastical province of Cashel and is subject to the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. The diocese is in the secular province of the same name - Munster...
and completed a Licentiate
Licentiate
Licentiate is the title of a person who holds an academic degree called a licence. The term may derive from the Latin licentia docendi, meaning permission to teach. The term may also derive from the Latin licentia ad practicandum, which signified someone who held a certificate of competence to...
in Canon Law after ordination. He was appointed as a curate in Ennis
Ennis
Ennis is the county town of Clare in Ireland. Situated on the River Fergus, it lies north of Limerick and south of Galway. Its name is a shortening of the original ....
and ministered in the parish from 1984 to 1987. He was called to Rome where from 1988 until 1991, he worked in the Section for General Affairs of the Secretariat of the State. In 1992, he completed his doctorate in canon law at the Gregorian University. In the same year, he graduated from the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy
Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy
The Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy is one of the Roman Colleges of the Roman Catholic Church. The academy is dedicated to training priests to serve in the diplomatic corps and the Secretariat of State of the Holy See....
and entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
on 1 July 1992. He then worked in the papal diplomatic missions in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, Jerusalem and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. He speaks Irish, English, French, German and Italian.
On 13 February 2010, Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
appointed him Apostolic Nuncio to Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
and Apostolic Delegate to the Comoros
Comoros
The Comoros , officially the Union of the Comoros is an archipelago island nation in the Indian Ocean, located off the eastern coast of Africa, on the northern end of the Mozambique Channel, between northeastern Mozambique and northwestern Madagascar...
(papal representative to the Catholic communities in both countries but accredited only to the government of Madagascar) and Titular Archbishop of Domnach Sechnaill (Dunshaughlin
Dunshaughlin
-History:It is named after Saint Seachnall, who established a church there in the 5th century.Máel Seachlainn was ancestor to the principal family of Brega, Ó Maoilsheachlainn, is descended...
) County Meath, Ireland. On 11 March 2010, he was named also Apostolic Delegate to Mauritius and Seychelles. Archbishop Nugent was ordained to the episcopacy in Rome on 18 March 2010. The principal consecrator was Tarcisio Bertone, Cardinal Secretary of State
Cardinal Secretary of State
The Cardinal Secretary of State—officially Secretary of State of His Holiness The Pope—presides over the Holy See, usually known as the "Vatican", Secretariat of State, which is the oldest and most important dicastery of the Roman Curia...
.
As his episcopal motto he chose "Quodcumque dixerit facite" (Do whatever he says), taken from the Gospel of St John 2:5.
Bishop Willie Walsh
Willie Walsh (bishop)
William Walsh is an Irish Catholic prelate who is the bishop emeritus of Killaloe. He served as ordinary from 1995 until his retirement in 2010.-Career:...
, welcoming the news, said, "Archbishop-elect Nugent is a gifted and well respected priest who has given great service to the Diocese of Killaloe and to the Holy See. All of us in the Diocese are filled with joy at the trust that Pope Benedict has placed in him to be his representative to the peoples of Madagascar, La Réunion and the Comoros Islands. I pray that God’s spirit will strengthen him as he takes up his new ministry"