BEHOLD I AM DOING A NEW THING
Says the Lord (Isaiah 42:19)  

My friends,

This is the theme that has inspired our prayer and dialogue across the diocese over this past while. It reflects our desire to be attentive to the Lord’s invitation to change and adjust together to the new circumstances in which we find ourselves. It calls for a generosity of spirit on all our part, people and priests to create altered ways of sustaining one another in faith and life. While we are continually inspired by the deep roots of our Catholic tradition, we willingly embrace the challenge of adjusting our parish patterns to work more effectively with one another.

We thank all those taking up new appointments, lay people and clergy. We are ever indebted to all who quietly and generously give of themselves to ministry in their parish. We pray for one another, for a fresh outpouring of mutual service to one another in these turbulent times.

The following appointments will be effective from 12 Noon Saturday 12th September.

• Very Rev. Anthony Wickham P.P. Newtownshandrum to retire and become Pastor Emeritus (P.E)
• Very Rev. Michael Fitzgerald P.P. Blarney to take Sabbatical Leave
• Very Rev. Canon Donal O’Mahony P.P. Charleville to continue as P.P. Charleville and also to be Administrator of Newtownshandrum
• Very Rev. Eugene Baker P.P. of Buttevant and Adm of Churchtown- Liscarroll to be P.P. of Blarney
• Very Rev. Christopher Donlon P.P. of Ballymacoda and Ladysbridge to be P.P. of Buttevant and Adm of Churchtown - Liscarroll
• Very Rev. Tom McDermott Adm. Cobh to be P.P. of Milford
• Rev. Mark Hehir C.C. Midleton to be P.P. of Ballymacoda and Ladysbridge
• Rev. Gerard Cremin C.C. Cobh to be Administrator of Cobh
• Rev. Damien Lynch C.C. Mallow to be C.C. Midleton
• Rev. Micah Kibet Kemboi, Diocese of Kitale, Kenya to be C.C. Mallow
• Rev. Tiernan Burke C.C. Youghal pro-tem, to be C.C. Cobh
• Deacon Garrett Cody to serve as Co-ordinator of Support to PASTORAL AREAS

Yours sincerely,

+ William Crean

Bishop of Cloyne 

Bishop William Crean meets Pope Leo on recent pilgrimage to Rome

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Bishop Crean meets Pope Leo

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Pastoral letter from Bishop William Crean

on pastoral planning for the future

My dear people,

To live is to change, is a pearl of wisdom from St. John Henry Newman, a convert to the Catholic faith in the 19th Century. To live in the 21st Century is an experience of constant change, social, cultural and technological. Viewing “Reeling in the Years,” the television series depicting life in former times is a dramatic reminder of the extent of the change we have experienced.

The Church whose life and presence within our communities and parish has had to adjust to and
manage the change taking place in society. One particular pattern has been evident for some years
now is the decline both in profession of Christian faith and its practice through the attendance at Holy Mass,
which, for the believer, is an obligation in faith. The consequence of this generational shift from family and
parish community attendance has seen a similar decline in responding to the call to Priesthood and Religious life. Despite this pattern in the Diocese of Cloyne, in all the parishes there are faithful practicing prayer congregations who witness to and support one another in faith.

Pastoral Letter

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