Having considered the pastoral needs of the people of the Diocese and the availability of priests, Bishop Treanor has made the following appointments, with effect from Thursday 12th August:
Very Rev Paul Alexander, PP St Vincent De Paul Ligoniel to be PP Saul and Ballee
Rev Paul Byrne, CC St Mary’s on the Hill to be PP Derriaghy
Very Rev James Crudden, PP Corpus Christi to be PP Newcastle (Maghera)
Very Rev Anthony Curran, PP St Malachy’s to be PP Carrickfergus
Very Rev Brian Daly, PP Cushendall and PP Cushendun to be PP Ballycastle (Ramoan)
Rev Patrick Devlin, CC Downpatrick to be PP St Vincent De Paul Ligoniel
Very Rev Sean Dillon, PP Carrickfergus to be PP Glenavy and Killead
Very Rev Raymond Fulton, PP Saul and Ballee to be PP Culfeightrin and assist in Ballycastle (Ramoan)
Very Rev Maurice Henry, PP Ballycastle (Ramoan) to be PP Crossgar (Kilmore)
Rev Michael McGinnity, to retain current responsibilities and to be PP St Malachy’s
Rev Darach Mac Giolla Catháin, CC St Luke’s to be PP Corpus Christi
Very Rev Feargal McGrady, PP Derriaghy to be PP St Anne’s
Very Rev Denis McKinlay, PP Kilcoo to be PP Castlewellan (Kilmegan) and Adm Kilcoo, and to reside in Castlewellan
Very Rev Luke McWilliams, PP Glenavy and Killead to be PP Cushendall and PP Cushendun
Very Rev Edward O’Donnell, PP St Anne’s to be PP St Brigid’s
Very Rev James O’Kane, PP Culfeightrin to be Priest in Residence in Kilcoo
Rev Brendan Mulhall, CSsR to be CC Downpatrick
Rev Eugene O’Neill, CC St Brigid’s to be CC St Mary’s on the Hill.
Rev John O’Connor to assist at weekends in St Luke’s
Rev Paul Turley, CSsR to assist (part-time) in the Cathedral parish
Rev Stephen Quinn, CC Cathedral, released for Postulancy with the Discalced Carmelites (ODC) Community in Oxford.
Together with Bishops Farquhar and McKeown, I should like to record my thanks once again to all our priest colleagues affected by these appointments. We thank them for their cooperation. We wish them God’s blessing, good health and fulfillment in their new appointments.
We acknowledge with thanks the support of Very Rev Michael Murtagh CSsR and the Redemptorist Community at Clonard for assistance in the Cathedral.
On behalf of the faithful and clergy of our Diocese we extend our heartfelt thanks to those who have retired after fifty years of ministry and fruitful service, namely:
Right Rev Monsignor Ambrose Macaulay
Very Rev Kevin McMullan
Very Rev Albert McNally
We are grateful for their continuing availability to supply in parishes ad libitum.
I extend every blessing to them as they retire from full-time diocesan duties.”