Long-serving Parish Priest in Offaly to retire as Bishop announces clerical changes

A long-serving Parish Priest in Offaly is to retire as clerical changes and appointments have been announced.

The Bishop of Meath, the Reverend Tom Deenihan has announced the changes for 2025.

Fr John Moorhead, the Parish Priest of Eglish, is to retire. Fr Michael Meade, who is the current Parish Priest in Kilcormac, will also now be the Parish Priest in Eglish.

The other appointments in the Dicese of Meath are: 

Fr. Sean Garland, PP Clonmellon to retire.

Fr. Terry Toner, PP Kilmessan to be AP Kilmessan.

Fr. John Conlon, PP Drogheda to be PP Donore in addition.

Fr. Padraig McMahon, PP Athboy to be PP Clonmellon in addition.

Fr. William Coleman, PP Rochfortbridge to be PP Ballinabrackey in addition.

Fr. David Bradley, PP Kells to be PP Nobber and PP Kilbeg.

Fr. Martin Halpin, PP Ballinabrackey to be PP Summerhill and PP Kilmessan.

Fr. Liam Malone, PP Nobber and PP Kilbeg to be PP Duleek.

Fr Mark English, PP Duleek to be PP Kells.

Fr. Declan Kelly, CC Duleek to be CC Kells and CC KiIskyre.

Fr. Barry White, CC Mullingar to be Diocesan Chancellor in addition.

Fr. Eusebiu Tulbure, CC Navan, Diocese of Iasi, Romania recalled for new appointment in Dublin.

Fr. Robert Badau, Diocese of Iasi, Romania to be CC, Navan.

Fr. Yohanna Jacob, AP Summerhill to be AP Moynalvey.

Fr. Jinse Jose, Indian Chaplaincy to be CC Ballinabrackey.

Rev. Anthony Kerr, Deacon to Navan Parish.

Fr. Vincent McKay, CSSp, CC Summerhill to return to Spiritan Congregation.

Fr. Wojciech Jaisonek, CC Moynalvey to return to Poland.

Speaking about the changes, Bishop Denihan said that moving is a difficult experience for both priests and parishioners and he thanked the priests in question for their generosity He also encouraged parishes and parishioners to pray for and encourage vocations as without vocations, more parishes will be without priests in the near future.

Bishop Deenihan will be visiting all Pastoral Areas during June to meet with priests and representatives of Parish Pastoral Councils to discuss how parishes can work together to ensure that Sacramental life remains and parishes retain their identity when there is no resident priest.

He pointed out that currently over one third of the priests working in the Diocese are from outside the diocese on loan or are over the retirement age for priests which is seventy-five.