'Heavier burden' for priests as Raphoe Diocese retirements and moves revealed

With four priests in the Raphoe Diocese retiring, the Diocesan Administrator has acknowledged that serving priests will now be carrying a heavier burden.

A series of clerical changes have been announced by Monsignor Kevin Gillespie, the Diocesan Administrator, and include some new cross-parish roles.

Killymard parish priest Fr Francis McLoone, Meevagh (Carrigart) parish priest Fr Charlie Byrne, Fr Martin Collum the parish priest in Killygarvan & Tullyfern (Rathmullan) and Lettermacaward AP Fr Eddie Gallagher are all set to retire.

Fr Paddy Dunne, whose transfer from Kilmacrennan to Ballyshannon in 2023 was met with outcry and vigils against the move, has been announced as the new parish priest in Meevagh.

Fr Rory Brady will be the new parish priest in Ballyshannon, switching from Bruckless, where he is the parish priest in the Killaghtee parish at the minute..

Fr Liam Boyle, who is currently the priest in residence in Glenswilly, will become the new parish priest of Inver with Fr James Sweeney moving from Inver to be the new parish priest in Killymard.

Fr Stephen Gorman, presently a curate in Milford, will take up a new role as parish priest in Rathmullan, with Fr Raymond McQuarrie moving from Mountcharles to Milford.

The parish of Glenswilly will now be administered from St Eunan’s Cathedral, the diocese has confirmed.

The parish priest of Killybegs, Fr Colm O Gallchoir, will now also administer the Killaghtee (Bruckless) parish with Fr Joseph Ndiraba arriving from Uganda to be a curate in Bruckless.

The neighbouring parishes of Newtowncunningham & Killea and Taughboyne will unite again with Fr Philip Kemmy announced as the new parish priest and Fr Damien Nejad, currently a curate in Leterkenny, set to move to become a curate in the Taughboyne parish (St Johnston).

Fr Sunil Joseph in the Diocese of Mananthawady in India will become a curate in Ballyshannon and also act as a chaplain to the Syro-Malabar community in the Raphoe Diocese.

The curate in Tamney, Fr Anthony Briody, will now be the administrator of the Tamney (Clondavaddog) parish.

Monsignor Gillespie has thanked the retiring priests for their “long and dedicated years of service in the Diocese.

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Monsignor Gillespie: “Given the decreasing number of clergy, it is important for parish communities to reflect on how they can support their priests as they carry a heavier burden of responsibility, and how neighbouring parishes can collaborate in ensuring that a reasonable number of Masses can be provided for in times of sickness or legitimate absence.”

The appointments will take effect from the weekend ending Sunday, August 17.

Parishioners in many churches were informed of the impending changes at weekend Masses.