Killaloe Diocese Council of Priests and Diocesan Pastoral Council

Posted on 19 January 2017

With the appointment of a new Bishop new committees and groups are put in place to assist him with the governance of the diocese. Many of these groups have been put in place over the last few months and have had some of their initial meetings already.

Two groups with whom the bishop will work closely are the Council of Priests and the Diocesan Pastoral Council.

Killaloe Diocesan Pastoral Council

In response to the Killaloe Diocesan Pastoral Plan, a Pastoral Council for the diocese was established. The role of the Diocesan Pastoral Council is to study and evaluate those matters which concern the pastoral works in the diocese and to propose practical solutions concerning them. The council is composed of priests, religious and lay people and meets regularly under the guidance of the Bishop.

Membership of Diocesan Pastoral Council

Bishop Fintan Monahan

Fr. Ger Nash, Director of Pastoral Development

Ms. Liz O'Dea, Inis Cathaigh Cluster

Ms. Blan Sexton, Críocha Callan Cluster

Ms. Susan King, Radharc na nOileain Cluster

Mr. Leonard Cleary, Imeall Boirne Cluster Co-Chair of DPC)

Ms. Fionnuala Moran, Abbey Cluster

Mr. Denis Bates, Tradaree Cluster

Ms.Teresa Browne, East Clare Cluster

Mr. Gerry Sheeran, Scáth na Sionnainne Cluster

Ms. Mary Hayes, Odhrán Cluster

Mr. Michael Nevin, Cois Deirige Cluster

Ms. Catherine Tooher. Brendan Cluster

Ms. Yvonne O'Rourke, Cronan Cluster

Fr. Tom Ryan, Council of Priests

Ms. Cora Guinnane, Youth Ministry (Co-Chair of DPC)

Killaloe Diocesan Council of Priests

The Code of Canon Law requires that each diocese have a Council of Priests. This council serves to assist and advise the Bishop in matters of pastoral concern. It is made up of a number of priests elected by the clergy of the diocese along with priests appointed by the bishop. In the diocese of Killaloe membership is made up of representatives from each of the pastoral areas (or Clusters) along with other priests appointed by Bishop Monahan. The purpose of the Council of Priests is:

The Code of Canon Law requires that each diocese have a Council of Priests. This council serves to assist and advise the Bishop in matters of pastoral concern. It is made up of a number of priests elected by the clergy of the diocese along with priests appointed by the bishop. In the diocese of Killaloe membership is made up of representatives from each of the pastoral areas (or Clusters) along with other priests appointed by Bishop Monahan. The purpose of the Council of Priests is:

1.    To provide for the full and free discussion of all issues of pastoral concern in the diocese.

2.    To assist the bishop according to the norm of law in his pastoral governance of the diocese.

3.    To search for and to propose ways and means for effective pastoral ministry with other consultative bodies and with the bishop.

4.    To be representative of the unity, diversity and needs of the priests to the bishop.

Membership of the Council of Priests

Tom Ryan, Chairperson

Ger Jones, Secretary

Albert McDonnell, Chancellor,

Des Hillery, Vicar General

Fintan Monahan, Bishop

Ger Nash, Episcopal Vicar for Pastoral Planning

Tom O’Halloran, Cois Deirge Cluster

Martin O’Brien, East Clare Cluster

Anthony McMahon, Criocha Callan Cluster

Pat Treacy, Cronan Cluster

Kieran Blake, Brendan Cluster

Michael Casey,  Inis Cathaigh Cluster

John Molloy, Odhran Cluster

Tom Whelan, Scath na Sionnaine Cluster

Damien Nolan, Imeall Boirne Cluster

Tom O’Gorman, Abbey Cluster

Pat Malone, Director of Safeguarding

Seamus Gardiner, Clergy over 75 Years

Brendan Quinlivan, Diocesan Communications Officer