A NUMBER of clerical changes in the diocese have been announced by Bishop of Kerry Ray Browne today, but none affect parishes in the Tralee area.
In a statement on the Diocese of Kerry website, the Bishop thanked three retiring priests — Msgr. Dan O’Riordan, Very Rev. Luke Roche and Very Rev. Tadhg Ó Dochartaigh — for their many years of service.
“Each has given fifty years of ministry as a priest. What wonderful service. May they enjoy every blessing and good health in their retirement,” said Bishop Browne. “Sincere thanks to all the priests affected by this year’s new appointments for their willing cooperation.”
Continued below…
Bishop Ray Browne wishes to announce the following changes to the appointments of clergy in the Diocese of Kerry:
Retirements
Msgr. Dan O’Riordan P.P. Castleisland
Very Rev. Luke Roche PP Castlemaine
Very Rev. Tadhg Ó Dochartaigh P.P. Firies
Appointments:
Fr. Maurice Brick PP Lixnaw to be PP Castleisland
Fr. Anthony O’Sullivan Rathmore (pro tem) to be PP Lixnaw
Fr. Michael Hussey PP Castlegregory to be PP Ballylongford
Fr. Eamon Mulvihill PP Kilcummin to be PP Castlegregory
Fr. Joe Begley PP Dingle to be PP Glengarriff/Bonane
Fr. Michael Moynihan PP Glengarriff/Bonane to be PP Dingle
Fr. Padraig Kennelly PP Ballylongford to be PP Firies
Two more parishes without a Resident Priest:
The parish of Castlemaine will be served by the priests of the Killorglin Pastoral Area with Fr. Kevin Sullivan to be Moderator
The parish of Kilcummin will be served by the priests of the Killarney Pastoral Area with Fr. Kieran O’Brien to be Moderator
Fr. Denis O’Mahony PP Abbeydorney to be VF of the Naomh Bhréanainn Pastoral Area
Fr. Brendan Walsh PP Causeway to be Moderator of Ballyheigue
Priests of all Pastoral Areas of the Diocese take up different responsibilities outside their own parishes and within the Pastoral Area. This will be decided and communicated locally.
These changes will become effective on Wednesday, July 17th 2019.
“The retirement of three of our priests has resulted in two more parishes without resident priests,” said Bishop Browne. “It brings the total number of such parishes to eight. Of our twelve Pastoral Areas just four have yet to have a parish without a resident priest. Thank God we had the ordination of a priest last year and we also have two seminarians studying for the priesthood. We continue to pray for vocations to serve as priests in our diocese.
It is a very sad occasion when a parish loses its resident priest. It is challenging for both the parish and for the whole Pastoral Area.
A parish without a resident priest means that the priests in the other three or four parishes in their Pastoral Area together provide a full service in that parish. In that situation no priest is any longer full-time in his parish of residence, each also ministers in the other parishes.”