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Bishop Jones - A Profile

bishop-jones Christopher Jones was born in Rathcroghan, Co. Roscommon March 3rd 1936. He is the second youngest of a family of eleven.
He was educated at Summerhill College, Sligo and St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, and was ordained to the priesthood on 21st June, 1962.

In 1962-1963 he taught part-time in St. Muredach’s College, Ballina, while studying for a Higher Diploma in Education at UCG.

He returned to teach at Summerhill College, Sligo in 1965. In 1971 he spent over a year as Archivist at St. Mary’s, Sligo, while also serving as Chaplain of St. Columba’s Hospital, Sligo. In 1972-1973 he studied for a Social Science Diploma at UCD.

In 1973 he returned as first director of Sligo Social Services Centre where he served until his appointment as Administrator of the Cathedral parish in 1987. During that period he also served as spiritual director to the students of Summerhill College from 1973-1978 and afterwards as Curate at Rosses Point, Sligo. For much of this time he also worked as diocesan vocations director. He served for many years as chairperson of the National Council for Travelling People and is the advisor to the Minister for the Environment on matters relating to the accommodation of Travelling People. Canon Jones’ appointment as Bishop of the diocese was announced on March 24th 1994

bishops-crest-small Contact Details
Most Rev Christopher Jones DD,
St. Mary's,
Sligo.
Tel: 071 9162670
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Coat of Arms of Bishop Jones

Bishop's Coat of Arms

Most Rev Christopher Jones D D

Bishop of Elphin (1994-)

bishops-crest-small

Bishop Jones' home parish of Tulsk (formerly Ogulla and Baslic) has a long history of association with St. Patrick. It is told that when Patrick and his companions assembled one morning at a fountain near Rathcroghan, Eithne the Red and Fidelma the Fair, daughters of King Loiguire, came down to wash there. They questioned the saint, who replied that it would be better for them to believe in God than to be so curious. They asked about God, and he replied:

“Our God is the God of all people, the God of heaven and earth, of sea and rivers, of sun and moon and stars, of the lofty mountain and the lowly valleys, the God above heaven and in heaven, and under heaven; he has his dwelling around heaven and earth and sea and all that in them is. He inspires all, he quickens all, he dominates all, he supports all”. (Quote from the Hook of Tirechán 9th century).Then the saint bade them to believe.

This crest depicts at centre-right the baptism of Eithne and Fidelma by St. Patrick. In the background is Benbulben, the great mountain of Sligo-Leitrim, famed for its mythological links with pre-Christian Ireland.

Balancing this on centre-left is a representation of the Holy Family, marking the fact that this is the International Year of the Family (1994), and also emphasising the traditional importance of the family in nurturing and handing on the Christian faith.

The anvil is symbolic of St. Asicus, metalworker to St. Patrick, who made him the first Bishop of this diocese, and Abbot of the monastery at Elphin.

Surmounting the entire shield is the Celtic Cross. This is taken from the High Cross at Drumcliffe, an early Christian monastic site which was founded by St. Colmcille in 575 AD. The cross there is a sculptured High Cross which dates from the 10th century.

The motto underneath reads “Fiat Mihi”. This means “be it done unto me” and is part of the response of Our Lady to the Archangel Gabriel when he announced to her that she was chosen to be the Mother of God. These words express the spirit that should inspire all Christians in their response to God’s will.