Bishop Kevin Doran

Bishop of Elphin Diocese in Ireland
Director, Father Flanagan League Society of Devotion

Appointed by: Father Flanagan League Advisory Council

Professional & Education:
Bishop Kevin Doran attended Holy Cross College, Clonliffe from 1970-1974 to begin his seminary formation, earning BA’s in Philosophy and French from University College Dublin (UCD). He completed his formation at Pontifical Irish College, Rome, earning an STB-Bachelor of Sacred Theology. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1977, and spent 37 years as a priest of the Dublin Diocese prior to his appointment as Bishop of Elphin in 2014. His thesis on the philosophy of the Human Person in the theories of St. Thomas Aquinas and philosopher-theologian Bernard Lonergan, SJ earned him an MA in Philosophy from UCD in 1987. A second thesis titled, “Solidarity: A Synthesis of Personalism and Communalism in the thought of Karol Wojytla / Pope John Paul II” earned Bishop Doran a PhD from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. Bishop Doran has written three books, titled, More Joy in Heaven: Confession, The Sacrament of Reconciliation; What is a Person? The Concept and the Implications for Ethics; and, Solidarity: A Synthesis of Personalism and Communalism in the thought of Karol Wojtyla. He has also contributed to various pastoral and academic journals. Bishop Doran’s first pastoral letter, “A Future Full of Hope” on Catholic Education, was published in November 2014.

Community & Philanthropy:
Following his interest in the Ethics of Health Care, Bishop Doran served for fourteen years as Secretary of the Episcopal Committee for Bioethics and was a member of the Board of the Mater Misericordae University Hospital for many years. He was, at various times, Education Secretary for Vocational Schools, and Chaplain at University College Dublin. He was also Secretary General of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress 2012. And, as a member of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Kevin chairs the Committee for Bioethics and is a Member of the Council for the Family.

Faith & Ministry:
In Bishop Kevin Doran’s 37 years as priest of Dublin Diocese, prior to his appointment to Bishop of Elphin, he ministered in six different parishes. Much of Bishop Kevin’s priestly ministry was concerned with the promotion of vocations and formation for ministry. He served both as Director of Vocations and Director of the Permanent Diaconate Programme in Dublin, as well as the National Coordinator for Vocations, Coordinator of the European Vocations Service, and Consultor at the Congregation for Catholic Education. He also served for five years as Spiritual Director at the Irish College, Rome. He taught Philosophy and Moral Theology on a part time basis at Mater Dei Institute and subsequently the Milltown Institute.

Family & Personal:
Kevin Doran was born in 1953 in Dublin to parents Joseph Doran and Marie Brady (both died in 2002). He has two younger sisters, Colette and Patricia.