STATEMENT FROM BISHOP LARRY DUFFY ANNOUNCING DIOCESAN CHANGES FOR DIOCESE OF CLOGHER 2026
Each year, the diocesan changes become more and more challenging. This year is no exception. A look at the statistics tell us that 53% of our priests in the diocese are aged over 70; some of these are retired fully while others remain in active ministry – often on a part-time basis. We have 21 priests under the age of 65 (34%) and just 9 priests under the age of 60 (15%). Over recent years this changing landscape has meant that many priests have had to take on additional responsibilities in terms of extra parishes. I sincerely thank each of them for their generosity of service to all God’s people.
The task of providing a priest for each parish is very challenging and calls on us to look at different options for the short and medium term.
Yet, still, the Lord is calling men into service. This year, we celebrated the ordination of Fr Stephen Sherry to the Priesthood. I congratulate Stephen and wish him every blessing in his priestly ministry. We also see an increase in the numbers of men expressing an interest in discerning a call to the priesthood by attendance at various events and engagement with our Vocations team. We also have the gift of the ministry of permanent deacons which is very valuable and appreciated by parishioners. And, importantly, we have the response of many lay people in parishes across the diocese to various forms of lay ministry, accompanied by good formation. To these must be added models of leadership at parish and pastoral area levels in the form of Pastoral Councils.
In all of this, as Bishop of Clogher I must look to the wider Church for assistance. We are part of a universal Church in a global village. We must seek out the gifts of priesthood and ministry from other parts of our Church to help us here. I am thankful that the Lord has been good in giving us priests from abroad to help us on our missionary journey of renewal as we seek to build on new opportunities amidst the challenges that face us.
It is in this spirit that I announce the following changes, with effect from 1 September 2026 (unless otherwise stated). In doing so, I thank sincerely those priests who are retiring from ministry or posts of responsibility. I thank those priests who have agreed to move parishes or to take on additional duties.
Right Rev Monsignor Laurence Flynn, Prior of St Patrick’s Purgatory, Lough Derg and Administrator of the Pettigo Parish, to minister in the Monaghan & Rackwallace cluster and reside in Tyholland.
Right Rev Monsignor Joseph McGuinness, until recently the Executive Secretary of the Irish Episcopal Conference, to be Prior of St Patrick’s Purgatory, Lough Derg and Administrator of Pettigo parish.
Very Rev Tiernach Beggan, PP Belleek- Garrison (Inis Muighe Saimh), to retire.
Very Rev Jim Moore PP, Clones and PP Killeevan-Currin-Aghabog, to retire.
Very Rev Brendan Gallagher, PP Fivemiletown-Brookeboro (Aughintaine-Aghavea), to retire.
Rev Kevin Malcolmson, CC Newtownbutler (Galloon) and Lisnaskea-Maguiresbridge (Aghalurcher), to take one-year sabbatical leave.
Fr Jerry White SScc, CC, Rockcorry (Ematris), to retire from parish ministry (effective 1 January 2027).
Very Rev Cathal Deery, PP Derrygonnelly (Botha) to be also PP Belleek-Garrison (Inis Muighe Saimh) simultaneously.
Rev Owen Gorman OCDS, priest-in-residence Aughnamullen East to be PP Aughnamullen East, while continuing to also support pastoral ministry in the parishes of Castleblayney (Muckno) and Clontibret and the wider Mid-Monaghan Pastoral Area.
Rev Stephen Duffy, CC Castleblayney (Muckno) and Clontibret parishes to be PP Bundoran & Ballyshannon (Magh Ene).
Rev Jeremiah Munyoki wa Kalekye, CC Bundoran & Ballyshannon (Magh Ene), to be CC Castleblayney (Muckno) and Clontibret.
Rev Stephen Sherry, recently ordained, to be CC in the Monaghan & Rackwallace Group of parishes.
Rev Peter Tambala, CC Monaghan & Rackwallace Group of parishes, to undertake further studies at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth and be priest-in-residence in Inniskeen.
Fr Sylvester Chasweka, CC Enniskillen, to be Priest-in residence Carrickmacross and South Monaghan Pastoral Area.
Fr Bartholomew Uzoma, Diocese of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, to be priest-in-residence Enniskillen.
Fr Vincent Fallon SScc to be CC Rockcorry (Ematris), (effective 1 January 2027).
Fr Polycarp Okolie, Diocese of Amgu, Nigeria to be priest-in-residence Newtownbutler (Galloon) and Lisnaskea-Maguiresbridge (Aghalurcher).
Fr Vitus Adiita, Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga, Ghana, to be priest-in-residence Fivemiletown-Brookeboro (Aughintaine-Aghavea).
Please be assured that I continue to be in contact with a number of international priests who will hopefully be in a position to take up an appointment in the diocese over the months ahead.
In announcing these appointments, I ask for prayers for all those involved. I also ask that we re-double our prayers for vocations to the Priesthood. We need priests for the celebration of the Eucharist and the other sacraments and for the sanctification of the life of the Church here. The world is so busy and noisy that it is often difficult to hear the Lord calling. He is calling now. We pray that in His great love, He will accompany those discerning a call to serve as priests, permanent deacons or in religious life.
Please, also, continue to pray for me as I continue to do the same for you, so that, in the words of Pope Leo XIV in his Message for World Day of Prayer for Vocations this year, ‘the gift of vocation will mature, bringing happiness and yielding abundant fruit for the Church and the world’. May Mary, the model of acceptance and true listening, continue to accompany all of us on our way.
Our Lady of Knock, pray for us!
St Macartan, pray for us!