ADDITION OF LAY PEOPLE to the Ministry of Pastoral Care and Ministry of Catechist are among the Killaloe Diocesan appointments announced by the Bishop.
A steady decline in priests prompted the decision of 2018 to introduce two new lay ministries in the Killaoe Diocese. The new ministries are to work alongside priests in parishes widening the reach in local communities and “easing the burden of work on the diminishing number of priests in the Diocese,” Bishop Fintan Monahan explained.
Lay people in the Ministry of Pastoral Care will visit those who are ill or elderly at home or in nursing homes and having a special care for those who are isolated or on their own in the community. They will be available help families at times of funerals and prepare liturgies.
Their counterparts in the Ministry of Catechist will assist the public with faith development. “This ministry will take different forms depending on local needs, reaching out to families at significant moments in the family faith story,” the Bishop said.
Appointments announced by Bishop Monahan take effect from August 26th and are to run for a duration of three years.
Ministry of Pastoral Care appointments include Catherine Brigdale (Crusheen, Ruan, Corofin, Tubber), Ríona Browne (Crusheen, Ruan, Corofin, Tubber), Michael Daly (Scarriff, Ogonelloe, Feakle, Killenena, Mounshannon, Tuamgraney and Bodyke), Bernadette Daniels (Clarecastle, Carrigoran, Bedford Row), Maura Falsey (Kilrush, Kilmihil, Cooraclare, Killimer), Lucy Kearney (Crusheen, Ruan, Corofin, Tubber), Margaret McInerney (Shannon, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Carrigoran), Rita O’Dwyer (Miltown Malbay, Mullagh) and Anne Marie Sheedy (Sixmilebridge, Kilmurry).
More specific roles have been identified for those in the Ministry of Catechist. Support for sacramental preparation processes has been selected for Anne Marie Custy (Doora/Barefield), Brid Meaney (Kildysart, Cranny, Coolmeen, Lissycasey, Kilmurry McMahon), Tom O’Dea (Sixmilebridge) and Bernie Torpey (Broadford, Tulla, O’Callaghans Mills).
Also in this Ministry, Joy Hensey (Doora/Barefield) will have responsibility for preparing couples for marriage, the trio of Gerry Sheeran, Gerard Lynch and Jim Sexton will work across the Diocese to development faith development approaches, Carmel Moroney (Tulla, O’Callaghans Mills, Broadford) will focus on funeral ministry and bereavement support.
Changes have also been confirmed among the clergy. Fr John Bane who retired in Broadford in January will now be based in Clarecastle and offer assistance across the Abbey Pastoral Area. Fr Martin O’Brien will become the priest in residence at Tulla, moving from Cuan an Chláir in Ennis. Fr Michael Casey is the new Vicar Forane (VF) of the Cois Fharraige pastoral area in South-West Clare in place of Fr Gerry Kenny who continues as co parish-priest. Newmarket-on-Fergus based, Fr Michael Collins is the new VF for the Tradaree Pastoral Area and will offer catechetical assistance to complement the work of Fr. Harry Bohan in Sixmilebridge Parish.
Fr Francis Xavier Kochuveettil will move from Shannon to Toomevara while the newly ordained, Fr Antun Pasilic who had been a resident of Cathedral House in Ennis will be assigned to Roscrea. Fr Martin Blake returns from a leave to absence to be Co-PP in the Abbey Pastoral Area, residing in Cathedral House.
