Parishes will have to ‘share’ churchmen

BISHOP John Buckley has warned that a shortage of priests will soon mean that parishes in the Diocese of Cork and Ross will have to "share" churchmen.

The bishop was announcing a series of clerical changes in the diocese which include the withdrawal of the Capuchin Friars from the pastoral care of Gurranabraher parish.

Bishop Buckley said his main priority in making the appointments was the care of the sick and the dying.

"Older priests who have retired from parish responsibilities have continued to undertake wonderful work around the diocese but, as they too grow older, they will be less able to do the work," he said.

From now on the emphasis will have to be on adjoining parishes working together. "No parish has all the resources to respond to their needs and parishes can be enriched through mutual co-operation," he said.

Bishop Buckley said difficulty in relation to diocesan appointments stemmed from a lack of encouragement for vocations within the family and the wider community.

While the Capuchin Friars are withdrawing from Gurranabraher they will leave Fr Owen O’Sullivan, OFM Cap available to serve as a curate in that parish.

Another Capuchin priest, Fr Michael Burgess, OFM Cap will take up duty as chaplain to Mercy University Hospital. Meanwhile, Fr Sean O’Sullivan assumes responsibility for Parish Pastoral Development within the diocese.

* Other appointments include: Rt Rev Msgr Kevin O’Callaghan PP Ballineaspaig to be AP Curraheen and AP the Lough;

V Rev Paddy Keating, PP Ovens to retire.

V Rev Liam O hIci, PP Glounthaune to be PP Ovens;

V Rev Kieran Twomey, PP Farranree to be PP Ballineaspaig;

Fr Martin Keohane, PP Enniskeane and Desertserges to sabbatical leave for one year.

Fr Tom Hayes, director of pastoral planning, to be PP Enniskeane and Desertserges;

Fr Sean O’Driscoll, CC Ballyphehane to be PP Farranree;

Fr Christoir McDonald, CC Curraheen to be PP Glounthaune;

Fr David O’Connell CC The Lough to sabbatical leave for one year.

Fr Paul O’Donoghue, chaplain Mercy University Hospital, pro tem, to be CC The Lough and CC Ballyphehane;

Fr Kevin O’Regan, CC Skibbereen to be PP Gurranabraher;

Fr Sean O’Sullivan, director of adult religious education and AP Ovens to be director of pastoral planning;

Fr Kieran Shorten, OFM Cap PP Gurranabraher recalled to Capuchin Order and Fr John Manley OFM Cap CC Gurranabraher recalled to Capuchin Order.

SIC: IE