Nearly half of Killaloe parishes have no priest under the age of 75

THE Diocese of Killaloe now has no resident priest under 75 in 27 of its 58 parishes, Bishop of Killaloe Fintan Monahan stated when announcing the diocesan appointments for this year, which will take effect from Friday July 28th.

“During the year past we had meetings at diocesan and pastoral area level to look at and discern the way forward in terms of structure. It is intended to work on the fruits of that synodal journey this Autumn and in the coming years,” he said,

“Sincere thanks to all, clergy, religious, lay ministers and many parishioners for the dedicated service to ministry and celebration of the faith in the diocese.”

The Parish of Kilcolman is losing a resident priest as Co-PP Fr Kieran Blake is being transferred to be Co-PP, Inis Cealtra Pastoral Area, residing in Bodyke. The parish of Kilcolman will now be administered by the Brendan Pastoral Area.

Long serving chaplain of Coláiste Phobal, Roscrea, Fr Lorcán Kenny, will be leaving that post to be Co-PP Odhrán Pastoral Area, residing in Portroe. He will finish in school in early October and start his ministry in Odhrán Pastoral Area on December 1st.

Ministers of Pastoral Care, Catechesis and Adult Faith Formation are to continue to work in the pastoral areas, parishes and at diocesan level, entering their second full year of ministry.

Bishop Monahan also extended every good wish and blessing in retirement to Ms Maureen Kelly who has completed her work in Pastoral Planning. “Sincere thanks to Maureen for all her dedication and good work in West Clare and at diocesan level in recent years,” he said.

The full list of diocesan appointments is as follows:

Fr Peter O’Loughlin, AP to retire, to become PE.

Fr Des Hillery, VG, Co-PP, Inis Cathaigh Pastoral Area, resident in Kilrush to be PP, Imeall Bóirne Pastoral area, residing in Corofin.

Fr Damien Nolan, PP, Imeall Bóirne Pastoral Area to be Co-PP, Tradaree Pastoral Area, residing in Sixmilebridge.

Fr Harry Bohan, Sixmilebridge, residing in Shannon be AP, Tradaree Pastoral Area.

Fr Willie McCormack, Co-PP, Odhrán Pastoral Area, resident in Puckane, to be AP.

Fr Martin Shanahan, Co-PP, Críocha Callan Pastoral Area, resident in Inagh, to be AP.

Fr Lorcán Kenny, chaplain, Coláiste Phobal, Roscrea to be Co-PP Odhrán Pastoral Area, residing in Portroe (Finishing in school in early October and starting ministry in Odhrán Pastoral Area on December 1st.)

Fr Michael Geraghty, Co-PP, Odhrán Pastoral Area, resident in Nenagh to be Co-PP, Tradaree Pastoral Area, residing in Shannon, St John and Paul Presbytery.

Fr Arnold Rosney, Co-PP, Tradaree Pastoral Area, resident in Shannon to go on Emigrant Chaplaincy Mission, Atlanta, USA for three years. Appointment takes effect from January 1st, 2024. Fr Arnold to provide assistance to the Odhrán Pastoral Area until December 1st, 2023.

Fr Michael Collins, Co-PP, VF, Tradaree Pastoral Area, resident in Newmarket on Fergus to be Episcopal Vicar for Mission and Ministry, while continuing to minister in Tradaree with cover from the Pastoral Area as required.

Fr Dariusz Plasek, Co-PP, Inis Cealtra Pastoral Area, resident in Bodyke to return to his native diocese of Radom in Poland.

Fr Kieran Blake, Co-PP, Brendan Pastoral Area, resident in Kilcolman to be Co-PP, Inis Cealtra Pastoral Area, residing in Bodyke. Parish of Kilcolman to be administered by the Brendan Pastoral Area.

Fr Tom Whelan, Co-PP, Scáth na Sionnaine, resident in Castleconnell to be Co-PP in Tradaree, resident in Shannon, The Presbytery, Drumgeely.

Fr James Michael, CC, Shannon to be Co-PP, Scáth na Sionainne, residing in Castleconnell.

Co-PP’s of Ollatrim Pastoral Area, Fr Pat Greed and Fr Francis Xavier, to provide pastoral assistance to Nenagh, being on call and celebrating funeral Masses each for one week in five.

One student for the priesthood having completed pre-seminary year to commence formation in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth.

Two students have applied to Killaloe Diocese to commence their propaedeutic year of pre-seminary formation.

Fr Ignatius McCormack, Principal, St Flannan’s College, Vocations Director to visit parishes to promote Vocations during this designated year of promotion of Vocations to Diocesan Priesthood.

Fr Michael Harding finishing sabbatical and taking leave for a further period of time.

Fr Pat Treacy finishing sabbatical and taking leave for a further period of time.