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FIVE parishes in the diocese of Kerry are now without a priest as two more parishes lost a priest this year. Announcing the clerical appointments today, Bishop of Kerry Ray Browne said: “The appointments involve two more parishes without a resident priest. I realise that this in particular will cause upset and be unsettling for both priests and people. The total number of parishes without a resident priest is now five.”

The Bishop of Kerry said parishes now face a challenge to have “the fullness of Church life in a time of less and less priests”. “If in a pastoral area there are four parishes and just three priests, then no priest is full-time in his own parish. A quarter of each priest’s time is dedicated to the fourth parish that is without a resident priest,” said Bishop Browne.

Bishop Browne said he had tried to keep the number of new appointments to a minimum this year, mindful that there were a large number last year.
Father Bill Radley, parish priest, Glenflesk retires this year. Fr George Hayes, vice-rector, Irish College Rome, will now become parish priest of Glenflesk.

Monsignor Sean Hanafin, PP, St John’s Tralee, will be on sabbatical until July 2017. Fr Tom Leane, parish priest, Ballyheigue, moves to Dromtarriffe as parish priest. Fr Liam Comer, PP, Dromtarriffe, has been appointed parish priest of Ardfert. Fr Tadhg Fitzgerald, PP, Ardfert, is the new parish priest of St John’s Tralee. Fr Pat Moore is to retire as PP of Duagh due to health reasons. Newly ordained deacon Rev Sean Jones goes to Listowel pastoral area on his pastoral placement.

Following the transfer of Fr Tom Leane, PP, the parish of Ballyheigue will be served by the priests of the Naomh Bhréanainn Pastoral Area, with Fr Liam Comer as moderator.

Following Fr Pat Moore retiring as PP of Duagh, the parish of Duagh will be served by the priests of the Listowel Pastoral Area with Fr Declan O’Connor as Moderator. Priests of all pastoral areas of the diocese will take up different responsibilities outside their own parishes in the pastoral area.

Voluntary service is playing an ever-increasing role in parishes, added Bishop Browne. “The fullness of parish life in each parish is only possible because of the faith, generosity and commitment to their parish of so many individuals and families,” said Bishop Browne.

He added: “Overall it is clear that more and more responsibility for life in the parish is in the hands of the laity. It is the same spirit of service to the parish that we see in all areas of local community life: the GAA, amateur drama, Kerry Parents and Friends and bridge clubs.”
In the past nine months five priests of the Kerry diocese have died. “All were retired and of a good age and had given long years of great faith-filled service,” said Bishop Browne.

“Last year three priests of our diocese retired having passed the age of 75. This year one priest retires on this ground. At the moment three of our priests are coping with long-term serious ill health.

“Within the next year, God willing, Sean Jones will be ordained a priest for the diocese. It will be exactly ten years since our last priestly ordination. Just one priest of our diocese is under forty. Thankfully we have four other students preparing for priesthood. I ask that we all continue to pray for these students and for vocations to the priesthood in the diocese.”
 

 
Bishop of Kerry Ray Browne.