Living and active faith communities that provide an enriching spiritual space and a genuine pastoral support for people on the journey of life is our hope. These appointments take place against the backdrop of many current challenges at parish level. Decline in faith practice and vocations to the priesthood mean that the way things have been in the past is not the way they will be in the future. As a Diocese we are actively engaging with parishioners and priests to creatively respond to these challenges and to develop a plan to breathe new life into our faith communities. In certain areas changes to the service provided by the local priest will inevitably follow. One priest simply cannot now do what two or three priests did in the past. I am confident that parishioners will be sympathetic and generous when it comes to such changes.
I pray that with God’s help the priests taking on these new appointments will provide us with wise and dedicated leadership. I wish to thank them for their generosity, especially those who do so in addition to other responsibilities. I pray that they will be happy and fulfilled in their new appointments.
I am conscious that we also owe a debt of gratitude to those priests who are retiring from positions after a lifetime of service. Free from the burden of office, I am sure they will continue to provide invaluable service in many areas throughout the Diocese. I thank them for all the work they have done over the years. I wish them health and happiness into the future. Let us pray God’s blessings on the work ahead.
— Bishop Michael Duignan
Clerical Appointments July 2023
