This article is from page 10 of the 2012-07-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG
THERE is no Clare man currently opting for life in the priesthood and just one from the diocese of Killaloe studying in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth.
The student from Birr is still a minimum of three years from ordination as the diocese undergoes more changes as it adapts to life with fewer priests.
Today (Tuesday) the Bishop of Killaloe Kieran O’Reilly SMA will announce changes to personnel as he reinforces the cluster system of the last few years that allows for less clergy to administer to the dioceses of 117,000 Catholics.
Bishop O’Reilly will confirm that four priests from the Killaloe Diocese, including Fr Paddy O’Brien from Tuamgreaney, will retire from active duty from September 1.
Four new parish priests will also be appointed including to the Clare parishes of Kildysart/Coolmean and Cooraclare.
The bishop has also named his new Vicar General, the man who along with Fr Michael Sheedy from Kilrush will become his closest confident in all matters relating to the diocese.
Fr Pat Malone will take on this role as the new Vicar General, replacing Fr Seamus Gardiner who is to retire.
Fr Tom O’Gorman has been appointed Administer of Christ the King Cloughleigh within the pasto- ral area of the Parish of Ennis.
As well as being appointed new Parish Priest of Cooralcare Fr Tony Casey will be appointed Coordinator of the Diocesan Pastoral Development Group. This is a new position and will involve a team working with Fr Casey from among the priests, religious and laity of the diocese “to engage in the area of pastoral planning for the future”.
“The development of the Clusters continues to be a key element in the organisation of the pastoral life of the Diocese. Through the listening process, over the past few months, there is now a growing awareness of the value and importance of the clusters as units of collaboration and sharing of resources of our parishes and communities. The sharing of the gifts and talents of many people – enriching our life in the community and in the Church, reaches beyond parish boundaries,” said Bishop O’Reilly.
“I hope the Clusters will continue to develop and offer new opportunities for ministry in the Diocese.
“A further development this year is the creation of two new clusters, after consultation, the Mid-Clare Cluster is divided into two Clusters: MidClare North comprising the parishes of Milltown Malbay, Inagh, Mullagh and Kilmaley with moderator Fr Pat Larkin and Mid Clare South comprising the parishes of Kildysert/Coolmeen and Ballyncally with Moderator Fr Albert McDonnell,” he explained.
Fr Maurice Harmon who continues to teach at Mary Immaculate College will assist at weekends in the Cluster of Scath na Sionnaine which includes Killaloe, Castleconnell, Clonlara, Broadford and O’Callaghan’s Mills.
The large diocese that takes in the majority of County Clare and parts of Tipperary, Offaly, Limerick and Laois has been managing the decrease in priest numbers in the last number of years through a cluster system which will now be increase from 11 to 12 clusters.
There are currently 89 Killaloe parish priests and curates in fulltime parish ministry, with six more engaged fully in school chaplaincy, teaching, diocesan administration and other pastoral work throughout Ireland.
Six more priests from the diocese are serving over seas in various ministries, while 12 priests are now retired from active ministry.
The Diocese also benefits from the service of four priests from other dioceses or religious congregations serving as priests in parishes of the diocese and from the ministry of the clergy based at the Franciscan Friary in Ennis and the Cistercian Monastery at Mount St Joseph’s, Roscrea.