Bishop William Crean has accepted the resignation from office, on the grounds of retirement, of the following priest in the Diocese of Cloyne to come into effect at noon on Saturday 17 September 2022:
- Very Rev Canon Donal Leahy, PP, Kilworth to retire and reside in Saleen and be available on request to minister in the area
Bishop Crean said, “the 2022 clerical appointments for the Diocese of Cloyne reflect the adjustments that we need to make to ensure the pastoral care of all the parishes in the Diocese. The parishes of Baile Mhuirne, Cill na Martra and Clondrohid will be the responsibility of two priests. The parishes of Fermoy and Kilworth will be the responsibility of three priests working as a team. The pastoral care of Aghinagh and Macroom will continue to be linked in the new arrangement.”
The following Diocesan appointments are to take effect from noon on Saturday 17 September 2022:
- Rev Patrick Corkery, CC Youghal to be CC Fermoy to reside in Kilworth
- An t-Ath Seán MacCarthaigh, SP Ballyvourney, also to be Adm Cill na Martra
- Very Rev Brian Boyle, Adm. Fermoy, also to be Adm Kilworth
- Very Rev Joseph O’Mahony, Adm Cill na Martra to be Adm Aghinagh
- Rev James Greene, CC Mallow to be Adm Clondrohid
- Rev Patrick McCarthy, returning from Sabbatical to be CC Inniscarra
- Rev Damien Lynch, CC Inniscarra to be CC Mallow
Rev Mark Hehir to be Pilgrimage Director to the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes.
Bishop Crean continued, “Very Rev Gerard Condon, PP Killavullen, will be the Director of Mission and Ministry, in that role he will lead a team of lay people offering formation for parish leadership. He vacates the role of Diocesan Advisor for Post Primary Schools, which he has filled for many years and for which we are deeply indebted to him.
“The roles of Diocesan Advisor for both Post Primary and Primary schools will be announced in due course.
“I, as Bishop, and the people of the Diocese of Cloyne, are deeply grateful to our priests for their generosity of spirit and commitment.
“As Canon Donal Leahy retires from full time ministry, we are grateful to God for his ministry in the various parishes he served. We pray the blessing of serenity upon his retirement.
“We pray too, for those taking on new assignments. Transition always brings its own demand. We pray the blessing of contentment upon them,” Bishop Crean said.