Coming to the end of his first year among the people, the religious and priests of the Diocese, and in announcing the diocesan changes for 2014, Bishop Denis Nulty, made the following comments:
“I am announcing a number of significant changes this year to reflect the unfolding pastoral reality in our diocese.
A key change is the reduction of Deaneries* in the Diocese from seven to three. This is not change for the sake of change. These changes reflect discussions that have been ongoing in the diocese for a number of years, discussions that have involved both priests and people, discussing how we can best share the Lord’s Mission in the years ahead.
The three new deaneries will provide a good platform for ongoing renewal into the future. I thank the three newly appointed Vicars who have taken on leadership along with Mgr. John Byrne.
Another significant change is the official appointments applying to the recently ordained Permanent Deacons in the Diocese. Their contribution to the life of the diocese already has been significant and will develop further into the future.
The diocesan changes this year include the appointment of a full-time Vocations Director, and a Vicar to support and care for Priests. The full–time Vocations Director will be responsible for actively promoting Vocations to the Priesthood and the Permanent Diaconate. The Vicar to support and care for priests is appointed aware of the expectations that are continuously being made of priests in pastoral ministry today. A Vicar has also been appointed to coordinate the challenging area of education and evangelisation in the Diocese.
I very much thank all the priests involved in the changes this year, aware that change is never easy for priests or people”.
All the new appointments and new changes come into effect on September 1st 2014, and are as follows:
Kildare & Leighlin Diocesan Changes 2014
V. Rev. Fr. Patrick Daly PP, Staplestown / Cooleragh is retiring.
V. Rev. Fr. Pat Gaynor PP, Clonbullogue is retiring.
Rev. Fr. Des Reid CSSp, CC, Kilcock is retiring.
V. Rev. Fr. Jimmy Doyle PE, to be PP Staplestown / Cooleragh.
Rev. Fr. Greg Corcoran CC, Edenderry / Rhode to be PP Clonbullogue & Rhode.
Rev. Fr. Brian Kavanagh CC, Graiguecullen / Arles to be PP Arles.
V. Rev. Fr. Larry Malone PE, to be Assistant Priest in Edenderry & Clonbullogue.
Rev. Fr. Paul Dempsey CC, Naas / Sallins / Two-Mile-House to be CC Newbridge.
Rev. Fr. Liam Morgan CC, Askea / Bennekerry / Tinryland to be CC Naas.
Rev. Fr. Seán Maher returns from Sabbatical to be CC Clonmore.
Rev. Fr. Bogdan Wawrzaszek CC, Naas / Sallins / Two-Mile-House to be CC Kilcock.
Rev. Fr. Seán Hyland newly ordained to be CC Askea.
Rev. Fr. Alex Kochatt to be CC Askea.
Rev. Fr. Ruairi O’Domhnaill CC, Newbridge to be Director of Vocations to the Priesthood & Permanent Diaconate.
Rev. Fr. Bill Kemmy, Diocesan Chancellor, on sabbatical.
Mgr. Brendan Byrne PE, to be Diocesan Chancellor.
Appointments of Diocesan Vicars:
Mgr. John Byrne PP, Portlaoise to be Vicar General.
V. Rev. Fr. Tom Little Adm, Askea, PP, Bennekerry / Tinryland, to be Vicar Forane – Kildare & Leighlin South.
V. Rev. Fr. Mícheál Murphy PP, Mountmellick to be Vicar Forane – Kildare & Leighlin West.
Rev. Fr. Paul Dempsey CC, Newbridge to be Vicar Forane – Kildare & Leighlin North.
V. Rev. Fr. Andy Leahy PP, Tullow to be Episcopal Vicar for the Pastoral Care of Priests.
V. Rev. Fr. John Cummins Adm, Cathedral to be Episcopal Vicar for Education & Evangelisation.
Appointments of Permanent Deacons:
Rev. John Dunleavy to Clane Parish.
Rev. Gary Moore to Rhode / Clonbullogue Parishes.
Rev. David O’Flaherty to the Cathedral Parish.
Rev. Fergal O’Neill to Naas / Sallins / Two-Mile-House Parishes.
Rev. Joe O’Rourke to Graiguecullen Parish & Arles Parish.
Rev. Pat Roche to Leighlin Parish.
Rev. Jim Stowe to Newbridge Parish.
Rev. Paul Wyer to Edenderry Parish.
Notes to Editors
(*Deaneries are the large grouping of parishes in which priests and people regularly meet to discuss and plan pastoral/administrative activities.)
