The bishop of Kerry, Dr Bill Murphy, has broken with tradition by naming the first non-cleric and the first female director of communications for 
his diocese. Mary Fagan is to take over the role which had always been filled by a succession of priests – notably Fr Ger Godley, Fr George Hayes and a former priest Rory O'Sullivan.
Dr Murphy said Ms Fagan’s role as the diocese’s link with the media was vital in the current time.
He said that, since the Second Vatican Council, the Church had been emphasising the importance of communicating the good news through the mass media.
"The Kerry Diocese sees this as a very important challenge," he said.
The bishop said that apart from the various messages from the diocese for which Ms Fagan will be responsible for communicating, the main message was to extend to lay people the invitation to become more involved in their local church.
“Key to this work is ensuring that the Church connects well with its people, both young and old, linking faith into everyday life," said Dr Murphy.
The involvement of the community in the Church depended on “good communication back and forth," he remarked.
Ms Murphy’s duties will include Horizons, a long-running discussion programme every Sunday morning from 9 am to 10 am on Radio Kerry.
Ms Fagan said she was looking forward to the challenge and said that a “talented and enthusiastic team of volunteers, representing different areas of the diocese had been engaged to feed into the programme.
They would record and bring forward examples of Church and spiritual activity from the various areas, she said.
Ms Fagan has previously worked as North Kerry director of the Kerry Diocesan Youth Programme.
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(Source: CIN)