While the Roman Catholic Church this weekend saw the inaugural Mass of its new leader, Pope Leo XIV, a number of Meath parishes also learned that there would be change at their helms, as Bishop Tom Deenihan announced new diocesan appointments.
Fr Sean Garland, who surely must be the oldest serving priest in the country, is retiring as parish priest of Clonmellon, a role he has held since 1984.
A native of Streamstown, Co Westmeath, and ordained a priest some 70 years ago, he also served as curate in Mullingar, Tullamore, Ballivor, Duleek and Oldcastle and in 1959 was appointed to Kells as curate.
Clonmellon parish now falls under the responsibility of Athboy's Fr Padraig McMahon, as a falling number of vocations sees six priests taking responsibility for parishes where there is no resident priest, in this round of changes.
Also retiring are golden jubilarian, Fr Terry Toner, PP, Kilmessan-Dunsany, who is to remain in Kilmessan as assistant priest (AP) for the present, and former Dunshaughlin curate Fr John Moorhead, PP, Eglish, Co Westmeath, who has served as a priest for some 45 years.
A native of Donaghmore, Ashbourne, Fr Toner was educated at Swords Vocational School and St Kieran's College, Kilkenny. Ordained in 1975, he served in Oldcastle, Bohermeen, Moynalvey, Oristown and Mount Bolus in Westmeath before being appointed to Mornington as curate in 1991, and to Kilmessan a decade later.
Taking over both Kilmessan and Summerhill parishes is Fr Martin Halpin, currently parish priest of Ballinabrackey, while Fr Yohanna Jacob, AP in Summerhill is also taking on Kiltale and Moynalvey, creating a block of three neighbouring parishes.
A native of Delvin, and originally trained as an accountant, Fr Halpin was ordained in 1991 and was curate in Clara for two years before becoming curate in Trim and Boardsmill in 1993, where served for 14 years. He was appointed to Ballinabrackey and Castlejordan in 2007.
Fr John Conlon, parish priest of Holy Family, Drogheda, takes on Donore; Fr Michael Meade is to be parish priest of Kilcormac and Eglish; outgoing Kells parish priest Fr David Bradley is to be parish priest of both Nobber and Carlanstown-Kilbeg, and former Navan curate, Fr William Coleman, is to be parish priest of both Rochfortbridge and Ballinabrackey.
Fr Mark English, currently PP, Duleek, is moving to Kells as parish priest, while Fr Liam Malone, currently in Nobber/Kilbeg, succeeds him in Duleek-Bellewstown.
Current Duleek curate, Fr Declan Kelly, is moving with Mark English to Kells, and will also be CC, Kilskyre-Ballinlough.
Rathkenny native Fr Barry White, CC, Mullingar, is to become Diocesan Chancellor, a position vacant since Paul Connell was appointed Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois in 2023.
Fr Eusebiu Tulbure, CC Navan, Diocese of Iasi, Romania, is moving to a new appointment in Dublin; Fr Robert Badau, Diocese of Iasi, Romania to be CC, Navan; Fr Jinse Jose, Indian Chaplaincy to be CC, Ballinabrackey; Rev Anthony Kerr, Deacon, to St Mary's Parish, Navan; Fr Vincent McKay, CSSp, CC, Summerhill to return to Spiritan Congregation; and Fr Wojciech Jaisonek, CC, Moynalvey, will be returning to Poland.
Bishop Deenihan, in announcing the clerical changes for this year, following a retreat for diocesan clergy last week, paid tribute to Fr Garland, Fr Moorhead and Fr Toner “who are retiring after a life of dedicated service to the Diocese of Meath”.
Moving is a difficult experience for both priests and parishioners, the bishop said, as he thanked the priests in question for their generosity.
“Retirements and the fact that there is no ordination to priesthood for the diocese this summer is further evidence of the changing landscape in the diocese,” the bishop stated.
He asked parishes and parishioners to pray for and encourage vocations as without vocations, more parishes will be without priests in the near future.
Bishop Deenihan will be visiting all pastoral areas during June to meet with priests and representatives of parish pastoral councils to discuss how parishes can work together to ensure that Sacramental life remains and parishes retain their identity when there is no resident priest.
He pointed out that currently over one third of the priests working in the diocese are from outside the diocese on loan or are over the retirement age of seventy-five for priests.