Priest appointments and the introduction of Families of Parishes
Today, Bishop Fintan Gavin, Bishop of Cork and Ross, published his new pastoral letter Putting out into deep waters (Lk 5:4) Transforming parishes together into mission-centred faith communities.
Bishop Gavin said, “How priests minister in the parishes of the Diocese of Cork and Ross will change significantly from this September. The diocese will have 16 ‘Families of Parishes’ and each will be ministered to by a team of priests. Each priest will be resident in a particular parish but ministering across the whole family of parishes. Bringing parishes together as families of parishes presents an opportunity for much greater lay participation and shared leadership of parishes. Initially, the team will consist of priests but I hope that lay leadership and more involvement will grow in time. It will involve parishes working much more closely together and sharing their gifts, talents and resources including their priests. The collaboration in families of parishes presents a great opportunity for parishes to prepare together for Baptism, Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, Confirmation and Marriage. In time, parish funeral ministry teams can work together across each family of parishes. It will allow for initiatives across a family of parishes for those who have become disconnected from our Church. It will also provide opportunities for outreach to young people within the family of parishes. It is hoped that there will be greater possibilities for formation and faith development.
“A more comprehensive presentation of how the family of parishes will work and, why they are being introduced at this time, is set out in my pastoral letter below, Putting out into deep waters. In preparation for the introduction of the families of parishes, a summary of the main points of the pastoral letter will be read at all Masses in our diocese on the weekend of Saturday/Sunday, 27/28 August, 2022. Printed versions of this will be available in churches that weekend. A printed version of the full pastoral letter will also be available at that time in parishes.
“Many people, including parishioners, clergy, religious, diocesan staff and professional facilitators, have shared wisdom, insights, expertise and prayerful support as we have been preparing together for this new era in our diocese. The part that each person has played is much appreciated.
“I would like to thank all the priests who have accepted new appointments in recent weeks. Priests appointed to the families of parishes have shown great generosity and openness in responding to this new way of ministering together.
“I also thank those priests who will step back from their responsibilities as parish priests, curates or assistant priests this summer. I am grateful for their many years of dedicated and generous service to the diocese and wish them every blessing in this new stage of their life and ministry. The ministry in the diocese by the priests who are returning to their religious orders after serving in the diocese is also much appreciated.
“Initially, we will begin with 12 families of parishes in the first phase and these are outlined below with the names of those priests serving in the families of parishes,” Bishop Gavin said.
- Names of the priests to minister in the initial 12 Families of Parishes. These appointments will take effect on Saturday, 10 September 2022.
Family of Parishes of Aughadown, Castlehaven, Kilmacabea, Rath and the Islands and Skibbereen
Father Bernard Cotter Co-PP resident in Castlehaven Parish
Father John Heinhold SPS Co-PP resident in Skibbereen Parish
Father Terry O’Brien MSC Co-PP resident in Kilmacabea Parish
Father Evin O’Brien CC resident in Skibbereen Parish
Father John Heinhold SPS Co-PP will fulfil the role of Moderator.
Family of Parishes of Ardfield and Rathbarry, Barryroe, Clonakilty, Kilmeen and Castleventry, Rosscarbery and Timoleague
Father Tom Hayes Co-PP resident in Clonakilty Parish
Canon John Kingston Co-PP resident in Timoleague Parish
Father John McCarthy Co-PP resident in Rosscarbery Parish
Father David O’Connell Co-PP resident in Barryroe Parish
Father Fergus Tuohy SMA CC resident in Clonakilty Parish
Father Ted Collins AP resident in Clonakilty Parish
Father Tom Hayes Co-PP will fulfil the role of Moderator
Family of Parishes of Ballincollig, Ballinora, and Ovens and Farran
Father Liam Ó hIcí Co-PP resident in Ovens and Farran Parish
Father Alan O’Leary Co-PP resident in Ballincollig Parish
Father Kamil Bachara CC resident in Ballincollig Parish
Father John Collins AP resident in Ballinora Parish
Father Alan O’Leary Co-PP will fulfil the role of Moderator
Family of Parishes of Ballinhassig, Clontead, Courceys and Kinsale
Father Michael O’Mahony Co-PP resident in Courceys Parish
Father Daniel Pyburn Co-PP resident in Ballinhassig Parish
Father Michael Regan Co-PP resident in Kinsale Parish
Father Robert Young Co-PP resident in Kinsale Parish
Father Robert Young Co-PP will fulfil the role of Moderator
Family of Parishes of Ballyphehane, The Lough and Togher
Canon John Paul Hegarty Co-PP resident in The Lough Parish
Father Greg Howard Co-PP resident in Ballyphehane Parish
Father John Walsh Co-PP resident in Togher Parish
Canon Jim O’Donovan AP resident in The Lough Parish
Father Greg Howard Co-PP will fulfil the role of Moderator
Family of Parishes of Bandon, Enniskeane and Desertserges, Innishannon and Knockavilla, Kilbrittain, Kilmurry, and Murragh and Templemartin
Father Jerry Cremin Co-PP resident in Kilbrittain Parish
Father Finbarr Crowley Co-PP resident in Innishannon and Knockavilla Parish
Canon Bernard Donovan Co-PP resident in Kilmurry Parish
Father Michael Kelleher Co-PP resident in Enniskeane and Desertserges Parish
Father John Newman Co-PP resident in Bandon Parish
Father Bartlomiej Dziedzic CC resident in Bandon Parish
Canon Bertie O’Mahony AP resident in Bandon Parish
Father John Newman Co-PP will fulfil the role of Moderator
Family of Parishes of Bantry, Caheragh, Goleen, Muintir Bháire and Schull
Father Myles McSweeney Co-PP resident in Schull Parish
Canon Martin O’Driscoll Co-PP resident in Bantry Parish
Father Michael Anthony Buckley CC resident in Goleen Parish
Father Ben Hodnett CC resident in Bantry Parish
Father John C. O’Donovan AP resident in Caheragh Parish
Father Myles McSweeney Co-PP will fulfil the role of Moderator
Family of Parishes of Carrigaline, Crosshaven, Harbour Parishes (Monkstown and Passage West) and Tracton Abbey
Father James McSweeney Co-PP resident in Carrigaline Parish
Father Chris O’Donovan Co-PP resident in Harbour Parishes
Monsignor Aidan O’Driscoll Co-PP resident in Carrigaline Parish
Father Pat Stevenson Co-PP resident in Crosshaven Parish
Father Aidan Cremin CC resident in Carrigaline Parish
Monsignor Aidan O’Driscoll Co-PP will fulfil the role of Moderator
Family of Parishes of Carrignavar, Glanmire, Glounthaune and Watergrasshill and Glenville
Father Christopher Fitzgerald Co-PP resident in Watergrasshill and Glenville Parish
Father Pat Fogarty Co-PP resident in Glanmire Parish
Canon Martin Keohane Co-PP resident in Carrignavar Parish
Father Damian O’Mahony Co-PP resident in Glounthaune Parish
Father Pat Nugent CC resident in Glanmire Parish
Father Christopher Fitzgerald Co-PP will fulfil the role of Moderator
Family of Parishes of Clogheen/Kerry Pike, Farranree, Gurranabraher and Knocknaheeny/Hollyhill
Father Cian O’Sullivan Co-PP resident in Knocknaheeny/Hollyhill Parish
Father Seán O’Sullivan Co-PP resident in Farranree Parish
Father Tomás Walsh SMA Co-PP resident in Gurranabraher Parish
Father Aidan Vaughan OFM Cap CC resident in Gurranabraher Parish
Father Seán O’Sullivan Co-PP will fulfil the role of Moderator
Family of Parishes of Drimoleague, Dunmanway, Kilmichael and Uibh Laoire
Father Liam Crowley Co-PP resident in Drimoleague Parish
Father Pat O’Donovan Co-PP resident in Dunmanway Parish
Father Anthony O’Mahony Co-PP resident in Uibh Laoire Parish
Father Rafal Zielonka CC resident in Dunmanway Parish
Father Pat O’Donovan Co-PP will fulfil the role of Moderator
Family of Parishes of South Parish, Saint Patrick’s and Saints Peter and Paul’s
Father Joseph E. Whooley PP resident in South Parish
Father Jilson Kokkandathil CC resident in South Parish
Father Marius O’Reilly CC resident in SS Peter and Paul’s Parish
Father Joseph E Whooley PP will fulfil the role of Moderator
Priests appointed to parishes which will be in Families of Parishes in 2023
Father Donal Cotter to be Administrator of Ballineaspaig Parish
Father Con Doherty MSC to be Parish Priest in Sacred Heart Parish
Father Des Farren MSC to be Curate in Sacred Heart Parish
Canon Michael Murphy to be Assistant Priest in Ballinlough Parish
Father Gus O’Driscoll SMA to be Father-in-Charge pro-tem in Blackrock Road Parish
Father Noel O’Sullivan to be Administrator of Turner’s Cross Parish
Father Jerome Sassou SMA to be Curate in Blackrock Road Parish
The remaining four families of parishes will be established in 2023
Family of Parishes of Ballineaspaig, Curraheen Road, Sacred Heart and Wilton
Family of Parishes of Ballinlough, Blackrock, Blackrock Road and Mahon
Family of Parishes of Blackpool/The Glen/Ballyvolane, St. Joseph’s Mayfield, St. Vincent’s, Upper Mayfield and The Cathedral
Family of Parishes of Douglas, Frankfield/Grange and Turner’s Cross
Appointments to healthcare chaplaincies
Father Declan Mansfield to be Chaplain in Marymount University Hospice
Father Patrick McCarthy to be Chaplain in Mercy University Hospital
Father Jerry Thornton MSC to be Chaplain in Saint Stephen’s Hospital, Sarsfield’s Court
Retirements
Bishop Gavin said, “I am deeply grateful to Father Donal Cahill, Father Tom Clancy, Father Patrick Hickey, Father Charlie Nyhan, Canon George Murphy, Monsignor Kevin O’Callaghan, Canon Tadhg Ó Mathúna and Father Billy O’Sullivan, who will retire from full-time ministry, for their service and commitment over many years in their diocesan appointments throughout their dedicated priestly ministry.”
The following priests are returning to their religious orders: Father JP O’Riordan CSsR, Father Tom Mulcahy MSC, and Fr Alphonse Sekongo SMA.
✠ Fintan Gavin
Bishop of Cork and Ross