Dramatic changes announced in Kildare & Leighlin diocese
Well known Laois priest Fr David Vard taking leave while others to retire or move away..
Familiar faces in Laois churches are about to disappear all over the county, amid a “challenging” shake up announced by Bishop Denis Nulty of the Kildare & Leighlin Diocese.
Describing “a big reduction in the number of priests available” he reveals he is seeking more ‘international priests’ to take up vacant positions.
In the meantime, there will be priests working across multiple parishes to fill the pastoral gaps.
One of the county’s best known young priests, Fr David Vard, recently appointed Parish Priest of Stradbally, is taking “a personal leave of absence” while others are retiring or have been recalled by their religious orders.
Fr Vard, a member of the joyful Timahoe Male Choir, had recently spearheaded a skydiving fundraiser for his churches and was the youngest priest in Ireland when he first joined Portlaoise parish. Bishop Nulty said that Fr Vard’s decision has his full support.
Meanwhile the Parish Priest of Portarlington and Emo, Fr Tom Dooley is retiring. Also leaving Portarlington is Fr Eugen Dragas Tamas, CC who is returning to Iasi Diocese in Romania.
Replacing Fr Dooley as PP is Fr Pat Hughes, PP, Myshall & Clonegal.
Fr Andy Leahy, CC, Myshall & Clonegal, will then become PP of Myshall & Clonegal while continuing to reside in St. Patrick’s Missionary Society, Kiltegan.
Fr Piotr Jakubiak, Polish Chaplain, is to become CC in the Portarlington Mountmellick Pastoral Area, while continuing to support the Polish community.
In Portlaoise Parish, Fr. Erik Ebot, SVD CC, Portlaoise, has been recalled by the SVD Order and Fr Ciprian Matei, CC, Portlaoise is returning to Bucharest Archdiocese in Romania.
Fr Petru Medves, CC, Abbeyleix, Ballinakill & Raheen, is to become also CC, Portlaoise. The three remaining curates in Portlaoise, Fr Adriano de Oliveira, Fr Simon Jin and Fr Petru Medves, will “assist in ministry in the wider pastoral area” Bishop Nulty explains.
“These changes are challenging on all fronts, and I cannot express enough how grateful I am for the cooperation, generosity and understanding from all our clergy.
“With a big reduction in the number of priests available this year, I am reminded of just how much each priest gives of himself when appointed to a parish. This is never taken for granted and we should always be thankful for their work and ministry.
“Clergy who are moving and those who are taking on more, have my deepest respect and support. Going forward parishes will undoubtedly be without a resident priest and so with fewer clergy it is more important than ever to pray for our priests and to encourage vocations.
“I am in contact with a number of international priests who hopefully will be in a position to take up appointments in the diocese over the coming months,” Bishop Nulty said.
Other parts of the Kildare & Leighlin diocese outside Laois are also seeing changes. In Carlow’s Cathedral Parish, Fr. Yanbo Chen, SVD CC and Fr Theodore Tomasik, SVD CC are both being recalled by the SVD Order.
Fr Joe O’Neill, PP, Kill in Kildare is to take sabbatical leave. Fr Yohan Fernando, CC, Naas, Sallins and Two-Mile-House, is to become Administrator of Kill while remaining part of the team in Naas, Sallins and Two-Mile-House Pastoral Area.
The changes come into effect on Friday, September 18.
“I ask you to keep all our priests and deacons in your prayers, to help them and to support them at this important time in our diocese. Once again many thanks and blessings to all,” Bishop Nulty said.