RETIRING: Fr Tom Looney pictured in June 2019 celebrating his Golden Jubilee Mass with Bishop Ray Browne at the Church of Christ, Prince of Peace. Picture: Eamonn Keogh

By Michelle Crean

This week, Bishop Ray Browne announced clerical changes for a number of parishes across Kerry including a new Parish Priest for Fossa.

Fr Niall Geaney from Our Lady and St Brendan’s Church in Tralee will, on Wednesday, August 5, take over from Fr Tom Looney in Fossa, due to his retirement.

Speaking about the new appointments Bishop Ray Browne said this week that he had hoped for very few changes in light of the current pandemic.

"My hope was to have very few new appointments this summer. This became even more a priority in the light of the Coronavirus. Amid the Coronavirus the welcomes and farewells are difficult for the priests and their communities. Sadly, in recent months two of our priests died, Fr Liam Comer and Fr Michael Fleming. Both were faith-filled, capable priests and much loved by their communities. Sincere sympathy to their families and to their parish communities."

He also thanked Fr Tom Looney for his dedicated years to the communities he served in and wished him well.

"Fr Tom Looney is also retiring this year. We thank him and wish him well. Our priests demonstrate a great spirit of willingness to accept new appointments, in the interest of best serving all the 53 parishes in the diocese."

This week Fr Looney had a message for his parishioners.
"I am delighted to let the people of Fossa know that as I shall be retiring from August 5 next Bishop Ray Browne has appointed Kiltegan Missionary Fr Niall Geaney, who is a native of Castleisland, as Parish Priest of Fossa. We wish naoi gcéad mile fáilte to this veteran Missionary who has served Pobal Dé in Nigeria, Sudan, Uganda and Kenya, and also every blessing and good health in his new appointment. Can I sincerely thank you for all your co-operation and great help during my Fossa years."