Priests in decline in the Diocese of Killaloe
Portroe is to get a new cleric to share the role of Parish Priest in changes announced by the Catholic Bishop of Killaloe that will also see the departure of popular priest Fr Michael Geraghty from Nenagh - at a time when the number of clergy in the Dioceses of Killaloe are ageing and their numbers in decline.
The announcements were made by the Catholic Bishop of Killaloe, Fintan Monahan, who stated that the diocese now has 27 parishes with no resident priest under the age of 75. There are a total of 58 parishes in the diocese.
Bishop Monaghan stated: “We now have 27 of the 58 parishes in the diocese with no resident priest under 75.
“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.”
A number of changes to positions held by priests around the Nenagh area and the diocese in general have been announced by the bishop, including that the Chaplain of Coláiste Phobal in Roscrea, Fr Lorcán Kenny, is to share the role of Parish Priest of Portroe.
CHANGES ANNOUNCED AS FOLLOWS:
Fr Peter O’Loughlin, Assistant Priest (AP to retire, to become Pastor Emeritus (retired).
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 Assistant Priest, Tradaree Pastoral Area.
Fr Willie McCormack, Co-PP, Odhrán Pastoral Area, resident in Puckane, to be Assistant Priest.
Fr Martin Shanahan, Co-PP, Críocha Callan Pastoral Area, resident in Inagh, to be Assistant Priest.
Fr Lorcán Kenny, chaplain, Coláiste Phobal, Roscrea, to be Co-PP Odhrán Pastoral Area, residing in Portroe. Fr Kenny will finish in Roscrea school in early October and start his ministry in Odhrán Pastoral Area on December 1.
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 1, 2024. Fr Arnold to provide assistance to the Odhrán Pastoral Area until December 1, 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-PPs 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.
Ministers of Pastoral Care, Catechesis and Adult Faith Formation to continue to work in the pastoral areas, parishes and at diocesan level, entering their second full year of ministry.