The retirement of two long-serving priests, announced this Friday, will result in two more parishes in the Diocese of Kerry being without resident priests.
Fr Denis O’Mahony, PP, Abbeydorney and Fr Martin Sheehan, PP, Adrigole, will both retire with Fr Jerry Keane going from Eyeries to Abbeydorney and Fr John Kerin transferring from Tousist to Eyeries.
As a result, the parish of Tuosist will now be served by the priests of the Kenmare Pastoral Area, with Fr Niall Howard as moderator, while the parish of Adrigole will be served by the priests of the Beara Pastoral Area with Fr Noel Spring as moderator.
The changes will become effective on Wednesday, July 19.
Priests in all pastoral areas of the diocese will take up different responsibilities outside their own parishes and within the pastoral area and this will be decided and communicated locally.
Bishop Ray Browne thanked Fr O’Mahony and Fr Sheehan for their great service over many years.
“They are fondly remembered by the people of the parishes where they served. I wish them good health and happiness in retirement. I also thank the priests who have readily agreed to uproot and move to new parishes,” he said.
The bishop said having two more parishes served by the priests of their pastoral areas causes change and adjustment in the lives of both clergy and people, especially parish staff and volunteers.
“It involves an extra workload on the priests. I deeply appreciate the willingness of all to do this,” he said.
Bishop Browne added: “It is important to remember that, not only are some parishes without a resident priest, but all priests are no longer full-time in their own parishes due to their commitments in the parishes without a resident priest.
“I fully understand that people are saddened by our constant adjusting to fewer and fewer priests. Be aware that this is happening in every diocese in Ireland, Great Britain and most western countries”.
The bishop said one of the most visible results of the appointments is a change in the number and times of weekend Masses in the parishes of the pastoral areas.
“Unfortunately, in some situations, people will have less choice of Masses. It will require extra effort/sacrifice for people to gather with their community for Sunday vigil/morning Mass,” he said.
“I compliment all the people and church areas for the way they have recovered post-Covid in terms of attendance at Mass and the return of choirs, altar servers, readers, ministers of the Eucharist and those involved with the sacred space.
“We are all conscious that Mass is both a truly privileged time in God’s company and our most important expression of our being one family under God our Father. I encourage families to reflect on the question, how often in these summer months of July and August will we adults and children gather with our community for Sunday Mass? What time in each Sunday will we give to God?” he said.
Bishop Browne pointed out that 26 adults have been undertaking the diocesan formation programme in lay leadership for the past 18 months and they will give service in their local pastoral area and parish in their years ahead.
“Within the next year we will seek to have another group commence this programme,” he said
“In the context of vocation, we thank God for the vocation to the priesthood of Mark Moriarty who will be ordained priest in the cathedral on Sunday, August 13.
“I ask all parishes to have a holy hour during their usual weekly time of parish adoration, or on the Friday or Saturday night that weekend in thanksgiving for Mark’s vocation, asking God’s blessing on his life as a priest and praying for the fullness of parish life in all the 53 parishes of our diocese,” Bishop Browne stated.
He said it is hoped to have a further ordination to the priesthood within 18 months and a person commencing his first year of seminary formation in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth in the autumn.
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