The Irish Apostolate USA was established by the Irish Bishops’ Conference and is the responsibility of the Irish Episcopal Commission for Emigrants.  Most Reverend Seámus Hegarty, Bishop of Derry, is the Chairman of the Commission.  Fr. Alan Hilliard is the Director of the Commission.  (For more information on IECE – see the home page.)

The duty of caring for migrants falls on the host Bishop however in a spirit of communion as outlined in Erga Migrates Caritas Christi and for the better coordination of pastoral activity; it is ‘unthinkable’ that the Churches of arrival and departure would not collaborate with one another. (Paragraph 70)

As the Irish Apostolate USA relates to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, an Episcopal Liaison is appointed by the Bishops’ Committee on Migration.  The first Episcopal Liaison was Bishop Raymond Boland, currently bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Kansas City/St.Joseph, Missouri. 

Bishop Raymond Boland has been a great advocate for the Irish immigrants in the United States during his tenure as Episcopal Liaison.  For many years he was also involved in the Northern Ireland peace process.  Although Bishop Boland retired in 2005, he still visits the Irish Immigration Pastoral Centers when he is in their area.

In 2005, Bishop J. Kevin Boland, Bishop of Savannah – and brother to Bishop Raymond – became the Episcopal Liaison to the Irish Apostolate USA.  In this capacity, Bishop Kevin Boland meets with the Irish chaplains to hear about the pastoral, social, and immigration needs of the Irish immigrants across the United States and offers guidance and direction.  Bishop Boland reports on these issues to the USCCB Committee on Migration. 

The Irish Apostolate USA is partially funded by the Support Irish Abroad campaign initiated by the Irish bishops in 2004 to care for Irish emigrants living abroad. 

The Irish Apostolate USA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and complies with the tax laws of the United States Internal Revenue Service.