Elderly priests crux

Challenges facing the Catholic Church due to lack of vocations and the growing age profile of priests in the Diocese of Killaloe have been underlined by its bishop, Fintan Monahan.

Bishop Monahan has revealed that one third of the 58 parishes in the diocese are now without a resident priest under the age of 75.

He alluded to the statistic when announcing changes in pastoral duties for priests that will see some relatively younger clerics take on extra work outside parishes in which they are based to addess the challenges that are being posed as some of their colleagues enter old age.

Among the changes is an expanded role for Nenagh's Parish Priest, Fr Des Hillery, and changes in other local parishes such as Silvermines, Moneygall, Dunkerrin, Portroe and Youghalarra.

Fr Hillery, Co-PP, VG is to become VF (Vicar Forane) of Odhrán Pastoral Area for a period of one year.

In addition to duties in Nenagh and the pastoral area, Fr Hillery is to take on parish responsibility for Portroe.

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Fr Brendan Moloney, Co-PP, Odhrán Pastoral Area, resident in Silvermines, to retire as Co-PP and VF but remaining in Odhrán Pastoral Area and Silvermines as an Assistant Priest (AP).

Joe Kennedy, Co-PP, Olatrim Pastoral Area, resident in Moneygall and Dunkerrin Paris is to retire his position but will remain on as an AP.

Fr Rexon Chullickal, CC, Odhrán Pastoral Area, resident in Nenagh, in addition to his duties in Nenagh and the pastoral area is to take on parish responsibility for Youghalarra.

Ger Jones, Co-PP, Odhrán Pastoral Area, resident in Portroe, is to be Diocesan Secretary and Co-PP for the Abbey Pastoral Area and will reside in Cloughleigh.

Bishop Monahan in making the announcements acknowledged the challenges and opportunities that accompany the publication of this year’s appointments.

He expressed gratitude to a number of priests who have opted to continue ministering beyond the retirement age of 75.

DIFFICULT TIMES

''Other initiatives emerging from Pastoral Planning give us much hope in these difficult times as people continue to work so hard in promoting and celebrating the faith in our Diocese,'' said the Bishop.

He added: “One of the great signs of hope in the diocese at present is the coming on-stream this year of 25 lay people trained in the area of Pastoral Care and Catechetics. I look forward to working collaboratively with them in the pastoral areas of the diocese.”

Bishop Fintan also expressed thanks to the Covid Committees and the many volunteers who have worked so hard to ensure that our Churches and places of worship are as safe as possible during the past year and a half.

Most of the appointments announced above are to take effect from Friday, August 6.

Among the other appointments announced are:

Fr Ger Nash, Diocesan Secretary, Director of Pastoral Planning to become bishop of Ferns.

John Bane, Co-PP, Ceantar na Lochanna Pastoral Area, resident in Broadford to retire to Ennis.

Peter O’Loughlin, Co-PP, Inis Cathaigh Pastoral Area, resident in Kilmihil to retire as Co-PP and to remain on as AP.

Pat O’Neill, Co-PP, Imeall Bóirne Pastoral Area, resident in Ruan to retire as Co-PP but staying on as AP in Ruan and in Imeall Bóirne Pastoral Area.

Pat Gilbert, to retire from St Brendan’s Community College and to undertake a sabbatical with a view to returning to pastoral ministry in the diocese in 2022.

Damien Nolan, Co-PP, VF to be PP of the Imeall Bóirne Pastoral Area.

Martin Blake, Co PP, Críocha Callan Pastoral Area, resident in Kilmaley Parish to undertake a sabbatical with a view to returning to pastoral ministry in the diocese in 2022.

Tom Fitzpatrick, Co-PP, Tradaree Pastoral Area, Resident in Newmarket-on-Fergus to be Co-PP, Abbey Pastoral Area and resident in Doora-Barefield Parish. (Appointment to take effect from October 1)

Michael Collins, Director of Formation, Maynooth to be Co-PP, Tradaree Pastoral Area, resident in Newmarket-on-Fergus and to be director of Pastoral Planning for the Diocese. (Appointment to take effect from October 1)

David Carroll, Co-PP, VF, Inis Cealtra Pastoral Area, resident in Bodyke to be Co-PP of the Abbey Pastoral Area, resident in St Joseph’s, Ennis.

John McGovern, Co-PP, Abbey Pastoral Area, resident in St. Joseph’s, Ennis to be Co-PP, Críocha Callan Pastoral Area, resident in Kilmaley Parish.

Joe McMahon, Co-PP, Inis Cealtra Pastoral Area, resident in Scarriff to be VF of the Inis Cealtra Pastoral Area.

Dariusz Plasek, Co-PP, Abbey Pastoral Area, resident in Ennis to be Co-PP, Inis Cealtra Pastoral Area and resident in Bodyke.

Pat Deely, Redwood, Lorrha, to assist in the Pastoral Area of Cois Deirge.

James Michael, Tradaree Pastoral Area, resident in Shannon to be CC, in the Pastoral Area of Tradaree, continuing to reside in Shannon. Both James Michael and Francis Xavier Kochuveettil, along with duties in Shannon to assist in the pastoral area to give Michael Collins in Newmarket-on-Fergus scope for pastoral planning and to help also in Sixmilebridge.

As agreed, the restructuring of Cronan Pastoral Area is to take place in 2022.