The Bishop of Kerry is asking parishioners to be faithful to weekend Mass as he announced the annual changes to the appointments of clergy in the Catholic Diocese of Kerry.
Bishop Ray Browne says he’s aware that some churches only have Mass every second weekend, while others no longer have a weekend Mass.
He says “our challenge to ensure there is Mass in every parish every weekend”, adding that priests have not been found wanting when faced with ministering in more than one parish.
This summer three priests are retiring, they are Fr Seamus Kennelly, who is parish priest in Boherbue; Fr Niall Geaney, parish priest in Fossa and Fr Michael Hussey, the parish priest in Ballylongford; each of them has ministered for fifty years and more.
Fr Noel Spring will move from Castletownbere to Fossa, while Fr Danny Broderick will move from Milltown to be parish priest of Boherbue, and Fr John Buckley will now be parish priest in Ballylongford and moderator of the Tarbert parish, leaving Killeentierna.
UHK chaplain Fr Gerard O’Leary has been appointed as parish priest of the Kileentierna parish and moderator of Knocknagoshel parish, while Fr Amos Surungai Ruto is to move from Our Lady & St Brendan’s Tralee to Castletownbere and he’ll also be moderator of Adrigole parish.
Fr Timothy Chebii will move from St John’s Tralee to Milltown, while Fr Arlappa Mundlagiri will serve as chaplain for University Hospital Kerry and Fr Kevin Sullivan will become moderator of Castlemaine Parish.
Fr Sospeter Kangogo will to continue to minister in Our Lady & St Brendan’s Tralee, while Fr David Kibet-Rugutt to continue to minister in St John’s Tralee.
These appointments will become effective on July 16th.
Bishop Browne says in response to facing the ongoing challenge posed by having fewer priests to minister in parishes, the Diocese of Kerry commissioned 25 parishioners as pastoral leaders, while five candidates are completing their formation programme for the permanent diaconate - that is to become deacons.
