Bishop Aphonsus Cullinan has made his first
clerical appointments since he became Bishop of the Diocese of Waterford and
Lismore earlier this year.
Bishop Cullinan has accepted the retirement
of Rev. Fr. John Kiely as Parish Priest of Cappoquin and Priest in Charge of
the neighbouring Modeligo and Affane Parish.
Fr. Pat Gear who is currently Parish Priest
of Ballyneale and Grangemockler will replace Fr. Kiely in Cappoquin, with Fr.
Richard Geoghegan who is currently Curate in Carrick-on-Suir and Faugheen set
to take over from Fr. Gear. Both changes
are set to take place later this month.
Fr. Ned Hassett who was appointed as
Administrator of the Abbeyside/Ballinroad/Garranbane Parish by Monseigneur
Nicholas O’Mahony while he was Diocesan Administrator after the death of Fr.
Tim O’Riordan has been appointed as Parish Priest of the same Parish by Bishop
Cullinan.
Fr. Michael Toomey who is Curate in Tramore
and Carbally since his ordination in 2009 is set to move to Saint Peter and
Paul’s Parish in Clonmel after the Curate in the Parish Fr. Ray Reidy died
recently following a short illness. Fr. Toomey was ordained by Bishop Emeritus
William Lee in Saint Peter and Paul’s Church. Fr. Toomey is set to be replaced
in Tramore by Fr. Shane O’Neill who was ordained in July by Bishop Cullinan at
Knockanore in July.
Fr. Robert Grant who currently is Curate at
Saint John’s in Waterford City is set to become Parish Priest of Saint Saviours
Parish in Ballybeg in January 1 following a decision made by the Dominican
Order who decided to withdraw from Ministry in a number of Parish’s around
Ireland due to falling numbers within the order. They will however continue to
work from their base at Bridge Street in the city.
The Parish of Saint Paul’s in Waterford City
who had the number of priests working in the Parish cut last year after Fr.
Richard O’Halloran transferred to Portlaw and Ballyduff will have Fr. David
Keating celebrating Mass at the Weekends. Fr. Keating is currently a Chaplin at
Waterford Institute of Technology. The Clergy in Saint Paul’s are also working
in Butlerstown Parish after Fr. Paul Murphy was transferred to Saint John’s in
Waterford City in
Bishop Cullinan has also announced that three
Priests of the Heralds of the Good News Order are set to take up positions in
the Diocese.
Fr.
Soosai Selvanathan has been appointed Curate in Carrick-on–Suir in and takes up
his duties in October, once a Visa is secured. Fr. Francis Xavier Vijaykumar to
take up a similar position at the Sacred Heart Parish in Waterford again once a
Visa is secured in October. A third priest from the order will become curate in
St. Mary’s Parish, Clonmel, once he has been released for duty from his present
post in India after Christmas.
Rev.
Lazarus Gidolf who was appointed as the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore’s
first permanent deacon earlier this year has been appointed to help in the
Clonmel parishes.
It has
also been announced that two men from the Diocese are to begin formation in
seminary this year in Maynooth and Rome.
Meanwhile
Two women first professions at St Mary’s Abbey Church at Glencairn Abbey
outside Lismore where Ireland’s only female Cistercian Community reside
Sr.
Elizabeth Deasy made her First Profession took place on the 54th anniversary of
the dedication of the Cistercian Abbey church in Co Waterford last week.
Earlier
in the month Sr. Angela Finegan made her First Profession marking the end of
her formal novitiate period of formation, and initiating her as a junior
professed member of the community.
She is
now allowed to wear the black Cistercian Scapular and belt and will continue
her initial formation for a further three year period, renewing her vows on a
yearly basis.
Sr.
Angela comes from Dublin and Sr. Elizabeth comes from Co Cork. Both entered the
community January 2013.
