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Tag Archives: Fr Brendan Quinlivan

Community spirit endures as virus forces changes to funerals

“AS a mainly rural people, we’ve always had a tradition of going to funerals to provide support and show sympathy, Covid-19 has forced us to make massive changes to that custom,” said Ennis-based undertaker, Cyril Cusack, commenting on one of the most challenging aspects of all of the current public health guidelines limiting gatherings and movement in the face of the Coronavirus. Reposals, hand-shakes and books of condolence have all been ruled out for the time being and the traditional funeral drawing huge number of mourners is a sight we are unlikely to see for some time. Detailed guidelines from the Health Service Executive (HSE) to funeral directors outline how social distancing must be implemented, meaning only private ceremonies for immediate family and friends are allowed. Despite the restrictions, Mr Cusack said families are handling the situation with dignity and grace at an extremely challenging time. “First of all, families have to deal with their shock and sometimes anger when …

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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 …

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Diocese faces delay for new bishop

It could take anything from a couple of months to two years to appoint a new Catholic Bishop of Killaloe, once the selection process gets underway in the new year. While the Diocese of Killaloe is officially a “vacant diocese” following the appointment of Dr Kieran O’Reilly as the new Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, he remains as diocesan administrator until his installation on February 8 next. He succeeds Archbishop Dermot Clifford, whose resignation, having reached retirement age, was accepted by Pope Francis. Fr Brendan Quinlivan, diocesan communications officer, said putting a timescale on a new appointment was difficult at any time, but, in this instance, it was further complicated by the fact that there are several other diocese where there are vacancies to the filled. Everything in the diocese remains in abayance until the new appointment. Eight days after the formal installation of Archbishop O’Reilly, the diocese’s seven-man College of Consultants will meet to select an administrator from among …

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Bishop under fire from priests

An open forum, organised in protest at the now postponed imposition of the Permanent Diaconate in the Killaloe diocese, heard harsh criticism of Bishop Kieran O’Reilly from several disillusioned priests. On August 15, The Clare Champion revealed that married men in the diocese could train to become deacons and preside over baptisms, weddings, funerals and other ceremonies. However, women cannot become deacons. In a letter issued to parishes last weekend, Bishop O’Reilly said that, following consultations, he had decided not to proceed with the introduction of the Permanent Diaconate “at this time”. At Monday’s forum in the Dromoland Inn, which was attended by more than 200 people, Ogonnelloe, Bodyke and Tuamgraney-based Fr Donagh O’Meara asked how and why the original decision to introduce a Permanent Diaconate was arrived at. “I’d like to ask a fundamental question; how are decisions made in our diocese and who makes them?” he queried. He expressed particular frustration in the light of the Killaloe diocese …

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St John Paul and the family rosary beads

By Fr Brendan Quinlivan Come Sunday, I will be able to boast that I had the privilege of meeting an officially canonised saint of the Church on a few occasions. Having been lucky enough to spend a few years in Rome during my studies for the priesthood, I met St John Paul a few times. One of those privileged moments stands out in a particular way. It happened in September 1992 when the Pope beatified 17 Irish martyrs on the steps of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Students of the Pontifical Irish College returned to Rome early that year to assist the influx of Irish pilgrims who came to participate in the beatification. An added bonus was that we were invited to serve the beatification mass at which Pope John Paul II was to be the celebrant. Early in the morning, a bus arrived at the gates of the Irish College to transport us to St Peter’s. Since we shared …

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