Fr Amos (seated centre) with, front from left, Fr Sospeter and Fr Padraig Walsh and back from left, Sinead O’Halloran, Nora Fitzgerald, Kathleen Bunyan, Norma O’Dowd and Catherine Healy at St Brendan’s Pastoral Centre on Monday evening. Photo by Dermot CreanST Brendan’s Parish Pastoral Centre was packed out on Monday evening to say a fond farewell to a much loved priest who has departed for another parish.
Warm tributes were paid to Fr Amos Surungai Ruto who came to Tralee six years ago from the diocese of Kitale in Kenya in East Africa and since then he has endeared himself to the local community through his work.
Fr Amos was ordained to the priesthood in February 2018, came to minister in St John’s Parish in August 2019 before moving to St Brendan’s Parish in August 2020.
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There was a terrific turnout of parishioners to say goodbye and wish him well in his new role as parish priest in Castletownbere.
Jackie McCull, on behalf of the Parish Council, spoke about Fr Amos’ five years in the Parish and the great regard in which he is held. She said his sense of service, kindness and humility was appreciated by all.
Fr Pádraig Walsh shared some memories of Fr Amos’ time in St Brendan’s through a poem he wrote, recalling funny incidents through the years.
Fr Amos with Fr Padraig Walsh at St Brendan’s Pastoral Centre on Monday evening. Photo by Dermot CreanA number of symbolic novelty presentations were made to Fr Amos, including a fishing net which will come in handy in his time in the famous West Cork fishing town, a toy dolphin in case he doesn’t see any in Castletownbere, a plastic set of golf club so he can try out the nine-hole course there and a pair of binoculars to keep an eye on his parishioners on Dinish and Bere Islands.
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He was also presented with a plant recognising his input to a biodiversity project in St Brendan’s parish as well as a framed collage of 15 photos of different memories of his time there.
Fr Amos took time to say greet everyone who turned out for his farewell party and he spoke fondly of Tralee.
“I going to miss Tralee and I thank the people of the town for being so good to me. I have great memories of my time here and I will visit from time to time,” said Fr Amos, who is an avid Kerry GAA fan and will keep an eye on their fortunes in the future. Just don’t swap the green and gold for a red jersey!
Craobh Thrá Lí trad musicians who played in the Our Lady and St Brendan Parish Centre, Tralee, on Monday last at the Farewell Evening for Fr Amos Surungai Ruto. Na ceoltóirí: Caoimhe Ní Shúilleabháin, Áine Ní Dhubhlainn, Aoibhín Ní Shúilleabháin and Mairéad Ní Dhubhlainn.
