Retired parish priests remain on as administrators

Three priests in the Diocese of Killaloe who celebrated the golden jubilee of their ordinations this year and have reached retirement age have agreed to remain on as administrators in their parishes because of the shortage of clerics.

Fr John Jones, a former member of the teaching staff at St Flannan’s College, will remain in the parish of Mountshannon while Fr Seán Sexton and Fr Michael Sheedy will remain in charge of the parishes of Inagh-Kilnamona and Kilrush- Killimer respectively.

In the diocesan appointments announced by Fr Desmond Hillery, Diocesan Administrator in the Diocese of Killaloe, Fr. Ignatius McCormack has been appointed administrator of Quin and will continue as a member of staff of St. Flannan’s College, Ennis and Diocesan Director of Vocations.

Fr. Albert McDonnell has been appointed part-time Associate Judicial Vicar of the Galway Regional Marriage Tribunal in conjunction with being parish priest of Coolmeen and Kildysart and Chancellor of Killaloe Diocese.

Diocesan Communications Officer, Fr. Brendan Quinlivan retains that function in addition to becoming Assistant Diocesan Director of Vocations. He will remain in Ennis parish

Recently ordained Fr. Michael Geraghty is to join the team of priests in Odhran Cluster and to be priest in residence in Nenagh.

Eighty Killaloe priests are in fulltime parish ministry while three Killaloe priests are engaged in fulltime school chaplaincy, teaching and other pastoral work throughout Ireland.

Three Killaloe priests serve overseas in various ministries while 12 others are fully retired from active ministry.

The diocese also benefits from the service of seven 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