Several changes are to be implemented across the Killaloe Diocese from next month regarding the priests in each parish.
Currently, one third of the 58 parishes in the Killaloe Diocese are now without a resident priest under the age of 75.
Bishop Fintan Monahan who announced the Killaloe Diocesan Appointments for 2021 in recent days also expressed gratitude to a number of priests who have opted to continue ministering beyond the retirement age of 75.
Restructuring of the Cronan Pastoral Area is to take place next year.
Tulla native Fr Ger Nash’s move to become Bishop of Ferns is included in the list of appointments, he had been Diocesan Secretary and Director of Pastoral Planning.
Former President of St Flannan’s College, Fr Brendan Moloney is to retire as co parish priest in the Odhrán Pastoral Area but will continue to reside in the Silvermines.
Fr John Bane is to move from Broadford where he was co parish priest in the Ceantar na Lochanna Pastoral Area and will retire to Ennis.
Noted in hurling circles for his contribution to the coaching in West Clare, Fr Peter O’Loughlin is to retired as co parish priest in Kilmihil but he will remain on as assistant pastor.
There will be a change in the Imeall Bóirne Pastoral Area with Fr Damien Nolan to become parish priest as Fr Pat O’Neill retires from the role to become assistant pastor, he will continue to live in Ruan.
Doonbeg native Fr Tom Fitzpatrick is to bid farewell to Newmarket-on-Fergus and take up resident in the Doora/Barefield parish where he will be co parish priest in the Abbey Pastoral Area, this will take effect from October 1st.
Director of Formation at Maynooth, Fr Michael Collins will take over from Fr Fitzpatrick as co parish priest in the Tradaree Pastoral Area, he will live in Newmarket and become Director of Pastoral Planning for the Diocese.
Cloughleigh is set to welcome Fr Ger Jones from Portroe, he will become Co-PP for the Abbey Pastroal Area and Diocesan Secretary.
Currently based in Kilmaley, Fr Martin Blake is to take a sabbatical with a view to returning to pastoral ministry in 2022. As a result, Fr John McGovern will move from St Josephs in Ennis to the Críocha Callan Pastoral Area and will reside in Kilmaley.
Bodyke will also have changes as Fr David Carroll moves to Ennis and Fr Darius Plasek heads to East Clare in his place. Co-PP of the Inis Cealtra Pastoral Area, Fr Joe McMahon will take on the role of VF and will remain in Scariff.
Fr James Michael will remain in the Tradaree Pastoral Area but has the additional role as CC in Shannon. Both he and Fr Francis Xavier Kochuveettil, along with duties in Shannon are to assist in the pastoral area to give Fr Michael Collins in Newmarket-on-Fergus scope for pastoral planning and to help also in Sixmilebridge.
