In response to the pastoral needs of the people of the Diocese of Down and Connor, Bishop Noel Treanor has made the following clerical appointments which take effect on Thursday 25th September 2014:
Canon Sean Rogan PP Downpatrick, to retire and to be Pastor Emeritus and Priest in Residence in Kilcoo.
Fr James O’Kane Pastor Emeritus and CC Kilcoo, to be Pastor Emeritus and CC Cushendun.
Fr John Murray PP St Michael the Archangel, to be PP Downpatrick
Fr David Delargy PP Hannahstown, to be PP St Michael the Archangel
Fr Kevin McGuckien CC St Patrick’s Belfast and Chaplain to the Mater Hospital, to be PP Hannahstown and Diocesan Vocations Director
Fr Dominic McGrattan Recently ordained, to be CC St Patrick’s and Chaplain to the Mater Hospital.
Fr Laurence McElhill PP Aghagallon, to retire and be Pastor Emeritus and Priest in Residence in St Teresa’s Parish.
Fr Declan Mulligan CC Newcastle (Maghera), to be PP Aghagallon.
Fr Colin Crossey Chaplain to the RVH, to be CC Newcastle (Maghera).
Fr Robert Sloan CC St Agnes, Belfast, to be Chaplain to the RVH and remain resident in St Agnes’ Parish.
Fr Peter Forde PP Carnlough, to retire and to be Pastor Emeritus and Priest in Residence in St John’s Parish.
Fr Dermot McKay PP Glenarm, to be, in addition, PP Carnlough.
Fr Maurice Henry PP Crossgar, to retire and be Pastor Emeritus and CC Downpatrick and part-time Dundrum, resident in Ballykinlar.
Fr Eugene O’Neill PP Killyleagh to be, in addition, PP Crossgar.
Fr Patrick McCafferty Assistant Chaplain to the Ulster Hospital to be CC Killyleagh and CC Crossgar.
Fr Michael Murray PP Upper Mourne, to be Pastor Emeritus and available for supply.
Fr Sean Dillon PP Glenavy and Killead, to be PP Upper Mourne.
Fr Colm McBride PP Our Lady Queen of Peace, Belfast, to be PP Glenavy and Killead.
Fr Chris McGuinness On loan from Saint Patrick’s Missionary Society to be CC Glenavy & Killead, resident in Crumlin
Fr Rory Sheehan PP Portrush to be PP Our Lady Queen of Peace, Belfast.
Fr Seamus O’Reilly On loan from St Patrick’s Missionary Society to be Adm Portrush
Fr Peter O’Kane PP Holywood, to be, on the death of Fr Colm McGrady RIP, PP Strangford and Kilclief.
Fr Stephen McBrearty PP St Anthony’s, Belfast, to be PP Holywood and remain Lead Coordinating Catholic Chaplain to the NI Prison Service
Fr Henry McCann PP Portglenone, to be PP St Anthony’s, Belfast, with Chaplaincy duties in the Ulster Hospital
Fr Anthony Curran PP Carrickfergus, to be PP Portglenone
Fr Peter Owens PP St Agnes, Belfast, to be PP Carrickfergus and Episcopal Vicar for Safeguarding
Fr Thomas McGlynn Following sabbatical leave, to be PP St Agnes, Belfast.
Fr Hugh Kennedy Adm St Peter’s Cathedral, in addition, to pursue Theological studies at Heythrop College, University of London.
Fr Joseph Rooney To be Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Down and Connor
Fr Timothy Bartlett To be Episcopal Vicar for Education and Director of Public and Social Affairs
Fr Michael Spence Rector of St Malachy’s Seminary to be, in addition, Episcopal Vicar for Clergy.
Fr Paul Morely On loan from the Diocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly Kerala, India to be CC Holy Family.
Commenting on the clerical appointments Bishop Treanor said: “With Bishop Anthony Farquhar I would like to record our thanks to all our priest colleagues affected by the above appointments. We thank them for their co-operation and we wish them God’s blessing, good health and fulfilment in their ministry.”
Notes to Editors:
- The Diocese of Down and Connor includes County Antrim, the greater part of County Down and part of County Derry.
- The Patrons of the Diocese are Saint Malachy, and Saint MacNissi.
- The Diocese has a Catholic population of 464,429 in 97 parishes with 150 churches.
For media contact: Catholic Communications Office Maynooth: Martin Long 00353 (0) 86 172 7678 and Brenda Drumm 00353 (0) 87 310 4444
