Canon Pat Peyton PP Collooney to retire and reside in Ballymote as Pastor Emeritus
Fr. Martin Convey PP Straide to become Parish Priest of Collooney
Fr. Stephen O’Mahony PP Bohola will, in addition, become Administrator of Straide
Monsignor Tommy Johnston PP Charlestown, to become Administrator of Charlestown
Fr. Gerry Davey Administrator of Carracastle will, in addition, assist in Charlestown
Announcing these changes, Bishop Dempsey says that “over the past number of months, we have engaged in conversations as parish representatives, priests, and deacons about some initiatives in our parishes/clusters and the possible shape our Diocese will have in the future. These conversations are continuing and will be widened to include more people from our parishes in the coming months. We are all aware that circumstances are changing very quickly and that we need to be open as people, priests, and deacons to different possibilities into the future. Pope Francis has invited us into a process of prayerful discernment to discover where the Lord is calling us at this time. It is very important that this sense of prayerfulness is at the heart of our journey together.
Over the years we have been blessed to have resident priests serving in each of our parishes. Due to the changing situation with declining vocations to the priesthood, this is no longer possible. Fr Martin Convey’s appointment as Parish Priest of Collooney, means there will not be a resident priest in Straide and the administration of the parish will be overseen by Fr Stepehen O’Mahony, Parish Priest of Bohola. Fr Stephen will work with the Parish Pastoral Council and committees in existence in Straide to ensure the work of the Gospel, so well attended to in the parish will continue.”
Appointments will come into effect the weekend of the 3rd/4th of September.