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 …
Read More »Fr Des brushes off bishop talk
NEWLY appointed Killaloe Diocesan Administrator, Fr Des Hillery, has dismissed suggestions that he may have an interest in succeeding Bishop Kieran O’Reilly, who is now Archbishop of Cashel and Emly. A native of Miltown Malbay, Fr Hillery has been parish priest of Nenagh for two and a half years, prior to which he served as a Columban missionary in Lima, Peru for seven years. “We’re not going there. I’m coming back to Nenagh. We’re not going down that road,” Fr Hillery quipped when asked if he is interested in the vacancy. “My focus is certainly here in Nenagh. It’s a very fine parish; the people are extremely good to me. I certainly enjoy where I am and I intend staying here,” he added. The most controversial aspect of Bishop O’Reilly’s tenure was the issue over the proposed exclusion of women from the diaconate. Last September, following a number of public meetings, the then Bishop of Killaloe said he was delaying …
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