After years of waiting, Derry finally has a new bishop - Dr Donal McKeown, who arrives from Down and Connor. Religious correspondent William Scholes spoke to him
HIGH-fiving primary school children isn't the normal way that a new bishop introduces himself to his diocese, but then plenty who know Bishop Donal McKeown will say he is far from being a 'normal' bishop.
It isn't just the marathon running and the fluency in languages, or the lack of stuffiness that sets Dr McKeown, an avuncular 63 years young, apart; he is also a warm and gifted communicator, with a healthy measure of Pope Francis's ability to speak not only with words, but also by actions.
Thus the high fives he shared with pupils from St Eugene's Primary School in Derry said almost as much as the words he exchanged with them, especially - as he crouched down to their level - with P4 boys Evan, Ben and Callum.
Moments earlier, Dr McKeown had been named as the new Bishop of Derry in St Eugene's Cathedral, the congregation bolstered by a healthy number of school groups who had been 'encouraged' to attend at short notice.
Characteristically, he said he felt "energised rather than daunted" by his appointment, which he learned about last Wednesday when he was summoned to Dublin to meet the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown.
Dr McKeown, who was brought up in Randalstown, has for many years been a hugely popular figure in the diocese of Down and Connor, where he has been an auxiliary bishop since 2001.
To say that the Derry appointment is long-awaited would be an understatement - the episcopal chair has been vacant since Bishop Seamus Hegarty resigned in November 2011 - and there was palpable relief and joy around the cathedral yesterday.
A bishop with such a warm personality will be well received in Derry, particularly after such a long wait - as well as offering leadership, the people need to know they are loved, and as he introduced himself to parishioners and well-wishers, Dr McKeown did just that, offering the equivalent of an episcopal bear hug.
It's an approach that was widely appreciated. Miriam Neely, a P4 teacher and RE coordinator at St Eugene's PS, said the bishop clearly had a "special gift" and was "able to relate to the children so well".
Outside the cathedral - sited in accordance with the unique formula that means Irish cathedrals are invariably built in the coldest part of any city - Dr McKeown valiantly battled the gusting wind, placing his zucchetto on the head of Emma McDaid from St Anne's Primary School.
It would be a mistake to think that he was all about crowd-pleasing gestures however, as there is a steely and sharp-edged intelligence behind those softer skills.
One parishioner noted that she had in the past read Dr McKeown - in Faith Matters in The Irish News - and admired how he was able to say things that weren't necessarily popular, or what most people wanted to hear.
Bishop McKeown later expanded on this theme, saying that "faith has a place in the public square and not just in the sacristy".
"The Churches, working together, can play an important service as critical friends of our political structures," he said.
Pope Francis has urged bishops to know "the smell of the sheep", and Dr McKeown said he would continue his practice from Down and Connor of "meeting people, hearing their stories and allowing them to teach me many of the things I need to hear".
A series of upcoming Confirmations will provide a further chance to get to know the diocese, which covers areas of Derry, Donegal and Tyrone.
"I enjoy getting out and about and meeting people - people are wonderful," he said.
"I taught in schools for 23 years and you're almost embarrassed to say this as a priest - I enjoy being with young people. They are great."
One of the 'public square' issues Dr McKeown is exercised about is academic selection to post-primary schools.
The present system - "of assuming you can measure people's intelligence in an hour-and-a-half on a November morning in the only test they can never resit in life" - is broken, he said.
"That idea that you can measure intelligence and then, with absolute infallibility, allocate people to different silos is an idiotic notion.
"We are where we are, but we re-ally have to begin to move beyond that.
"All of our young people, and not just some, deserve the best we can give them. We have to find better ways forward."
The diocese of Derry now moves forward itself, under new leader-ship. Bishop McKeown will take 'canonical possession' on April 6.
* CROWD PLEASER: A popular figure, Donal McKeown was announced yesterday as the new bishop of the Derry diocese. Below left, Dr McKeown with Papal Nuncio Charles J Brown at St Eugene's Cathedral in Derry PICTURES:
Margaret McLaughlin
* MEETING PEOPLE: Left, the new bishop of the Derry Donal McKeown yesterday with children from St Anne's Primary School and above with St Anne's pupil Emma McDaid
pictureS: Margaret McLaughlin