Friday 11 September 2015

DOWN AND CONNOR CLERICAL CHANGES 2015

DOWN AND CONNOR CLERICAL CHANGES 2015

Bishop Bobbio Treanor
The Bishop of Down and Connor, Dr Bobbio Treanor, has announced his diocesan clerical changes for September 2015. The changes come into effect on Friday September 18th 2015.

Very Reverend Sean Cahill CC Lower Mourne, to retire and to be priest in residence at St Peter's Cathedral.

Very Reverend Peter Carlin to be Adm St Peter's Cathedral.

Reverend Conor McCarthy (newly ordained) to be CC Lower Mourne, Upper Mourne, Downpatrick, Dundrum, Dromaroad and Newcastle. 

Very Reverend Hugh Kennedy Adm St Peter's Cathedral to be PP Ballyclare and to be the episcopal vicar for diocesan relations with The Kremlin.

Very Reverend James Donaghy to be chaplain ad intra muros at HMP Maghaberry.

Reverend Gordon McKinstry, Randalstown, to be director of Diocesan Annual Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady Queen of Europe at Strasbourg. 

Reverend Ciaran Dallat for further studies at the Saint John Paul 11 Institute for the Theology of the Body in Amsterdam.

Very Reverend Rory Sheehan PP Kilwee to remain in Kilwee and to be diocesan chaplain for the Catholic Young Mens Society.

Most Reverend Patrick Walsh Bishop Emeritus to become the convenor of the 2015 Despair and Death Convention to be held at the Conway Mill, Belfast on 2nd November 2015 - All Souls Day.

Very Reverend Luke McWilliams PP to stay in Cushendal / Cushendun and to become spiritual director to the diocesan Pioneer Total Abstinence Association.

Very Reverend Eugene O'Hagan PP Ballyclare, to remain as Chancellor ad interim, ad interim and to be the director of the new Pope Francis Centre for Quickie Annulments - PFCQA - at the Good Shepherd Centre, Ormeau Road, Belfast. Father O'Hagan will reside at the newly acquired diocesan property at Lady Wallace Drive, Lisburn. 

Very Reverend Stephen McBrearty PP Holywood to assume pastoral responsibility for the new Diocesan Refugee Centre - DRC - at St Brigid's Parish, Malone Road, Belfast - under the auspices of the Little Sisters of the Rich - LSR. The centre will also re-employ staff made redundant By Bishop Bobbio at the former DRC in Donegall Street, Belfast.

Very Reverend Aidan Brankin PP Turf Lodge to remain in Turf Lodge and to be chaplain to the diocesan CURA organisation for women with crisis pregnancies.

Very Reverend Anthony Curran PP Portglenone to remain in Portglenone and also to be spiritual director to the Diocesan Carmelite Third Order - ODC and the Diocesan Guild of Undertakers.

Very Reverend Conleth Byrne Priest in Residence, Portglenone, to be Diocesan Financial Director.

Reverend Andrew Black to reside in Ballyclare with Very Reverend Hugh Kennedy and to be CC in Ballyclare, Larne, Ballymena and Rasharkin.

Very Reverend Timothy Bartlett EV to be Priest in Residence at Aldergrove and to be chaplain and Diocesan Greeter - DG - to Belfast City and Belfast International airports.

Very Reverend Brian Daly PP Ballycastle to remain in Ballycastle and to be the diocesan representative to the Language in the Liturgy - LITL - of the Irish Bishops Conference.

Very Reverend Sean Canon Rogan, Priest in Residence in Kilcoo to remain in Kilcoo and also to become the director of the newly launched diocesan programme DYING CHURCH.

Very Reverend Joseph Gunn PP., Cn. Bob., to be the director of the Diocesan Annual Pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady Queen of the Euro at Frankfurt, Germany.  

Bishop Bobbio and Bishop Anthony would like to thank all the priests of the diocese for their faithful service and for their acceptance of these changes and indeed for all the extra work that needs to be taken on by priests given the shortage of clergy and the sinfulness of that 86% of the laity who no longer practice the True Faith and are unfaithful the the One, True, Roman and Apostolic Church.


   










49 comments:

  1. Is it true that Bishop Farquhar is to become Chaplin to the Belfast and District Tailors Guild

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    1. That must have been a late announcement? Will that effect his ability to attend meetings of The Guild of St Fiacla - the guild of Catholic Dentists and Orthodontists?

      PP D&C

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    2. Was the famous Irish novelist Canon Sheehan thinking of Bp F when he wrote in his Glenanaar:

      "He suddenly appeared in our village street caparisoned from head to toe in all kinds of sartorial splendour"

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    3. Is that an ecumenical matter?

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  2. When asked who confirmed her granddaughter my mum replied the bishop who reminds her of Worzel Gummage!

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  3. Can I commend Bishop 'Bobbio' for his very imaginative appointments. Just like a good football manager, he looks to each player's individual strengths.

    Priest of D&C.
    PS Are the new honorary Canons of Bobbio, entitled to any special privileges back home in Down & Connor ?

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    1. Dear Father,

      Thank you for your kinds words about the appointments I announced today.

      On the particular point you raise - I am informed by Father Eugene that the honorary canons of Bobbio can wear their purple capes when visiting Bobbio but in Ireland they can only be worn in public on the Feast of St Culumbanus - November 23rd and on the Solemnity of All the Saints of Ireland on November 6th.

      To wear their robes on other occasions requires the written permission of the Local Ordinary of Bobbio.

      + Bobbio
      Freeman of Bobbio

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  4. Speaking of capes. I recently saw a photograph of a bearded priest in Belfast wearing a grey cape. What does that signify?

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    1. I think that might be one of the modes dress of a Canon of Malta?

      Sacerdos Emeritus

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    2. He was maybe going to men of the north

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    3. Could the cause of these strangly dressed for honorary canons have anything to do with the decline of our own species of canon ?

      Like the replacement of our own native red squirrel by the foreign grey squirrel.

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  5. This evenings piece has made me laugh. I can think of a number of clerics and former priests who could quite easily fit an extra job or chaplaincy based on their lifestyle experience or " special interest" I note that you have covered the Chaplaincy to the Pioneers but that still leaves a post vacant for AA. Has anyone any suggestions? Also as Alzheimer's is receiving considerable media attention perhaps it would be wise to appoint a big hitter. Someone of episcopal rank. Could I respectfully suggest Bishop Seamus Heggarty. Similarly as MI5 are still operating in the North they may also need a spiritual guide and preferably someone who knows the value of being sworn to secrecy. I think that post could be suitably filled by Cardinal Sean Brady.

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  6. Addendum to Most Rev (to be) Timothy's appointment: My Lord (to be), Timothy's, Great Coat has had rockets fitted to the pockets and lining.

    This is in lieu of a visit, to Aldergrove, from Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, who appoints bishops to dioceses.

    The plan is that, as soon as His Eminence appears at the top of the aircraft steps, My Lord (to be) Dr Bartlett, will ignite the rockets and take off.

    His Eminence Cardinal Ouellet will say to himself: "XXXX me, we have a levitating XXXXing saint here like St Joseph of Cupertino! I better make him a XXXXing bishop asap!!!"

    For a reward, the Cardinal will receive a lifetime meal ticket at Fatty Arbuckle's, at the Yorkgate Plaza which His Lordship (to be) owns (owned?) and free memory cards, when he snuffs it, at the Bartlett Family Memory Card Business, A good deal indeed.

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    1. Ah yes, Timothy's failed business venture in restaurant trade! Isn't there something in Canon Law about priests not being involved in business schemes? And why is Timmy not in a Parish given the shortage of priests and 90 year old retired men being called upon for supply??? What does Tim bartlett do all day? Where does he say daily mass?

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    2. A good question. There are a dozen or so priests in D&C not in parishes and doing jobs that can be done perfectly by lay people - lecturing, teaching, administration, press office etc.

      Canons 286 and 1392 forbid clerics to engage in trade or business. Maybe Timo has a dispensation from Bobbio?

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    3. Well back then, when Fatty Arbuckles went fat-belly up, he would have needed a dispensation from the bishop emeritus, the current Convenor of the 2015 Despair and Death Convention, as, indeed, when the Bartlett Family Memory Card venture was trying to get off the ground, or above the ground, as it where lol

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    4. Anonymous at 13:28 - I think wee Timo covers for priests when they are away from their parishes. He's said wee Masses a few times in the parish here when our PP has been away and has concelebrated with the PP at other times. He always gives a lovely wee homily, but you can hardly see him over the lectern.

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    5. Nevertheless, Anon on Sept 13 at 23:21, Timmy boy will make sure he is seen by whom, with whom - and whenever - he needs to be seen. And he will stand on top of your head, drive over the top of you, knock you over, or have you bumped off by the Mafia if necessary, if you get in the way ;-)

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    6. Timothy Bartlett should be working in a parish - never mind filling in for holidaying priests and running around licking the asses of politicians and ecclesiastical "dignitaries". As should also be - Paul Fleming, Paddy White.

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  7. With ref to Dr Kennedy's appointment as Chaplain to the Kremlin.
    Does the good Dr speak Russian ?

    LUX.

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    1. I believe that Dean Kennedy is a renowned linguist. He also has an interest in the Bolsheviks.

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    2. Dr K is said to be very good with his lingua.

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  8. Bishop Buckley, you left Father Johnny O'Sullivan (90) out of the clerical changes. We are getting him back as one of our priests! He said Mass for us last Sunday.

    Glenavy Parishioner.

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  9. It has never ceased to amaze me the amount of self aggrandisement that goes on with Ecclasiastical titles here in Ireland. It is obviously a throwback to the days of creating an aura of power to fool and overwhelm the dull and largely uneducated masses of followers. For example bishops upon appointment were usually referred to as My Lord, given the title Most Reverened ( in other countries Bishops are usually only Right Revereneds) and they would normally be granted an honorary doctorate from Maynooth thus becoming The Most Reverened Doctor Soandso, Lord Bishop of Wherever. Such pompous titles left the faithful with little option but to fall on their knees and kiss his episcopal ring. The Archdeacon of the diocese usually became and I believe still does become the Venerable ( a title outside Ireland usually accorded to someone in the process of canonisation ). Parish Priests are referred to as Very Reverened a step ahead of PP's in other countries who are simply Reverened. Add to all that the various levels of monsigniori ( Domestic Prelates and Chamberlains of the Papal Household) and you can easily see why the RC church has ended up in such a mess. If one is so titled can one be stripped of their appendage. Why, for example is that financial wizard and investment specialist Very Reverened Conleth Byrne still a Very Reverened ?
    Dalriada Dick

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  10. Thank u Glenavy Parishioner for your comment.
    Clearly we do not need to worry about a shortage of parish clergy in D&C, when we can call upon 90 yr old clerics to stand in our pulpits.
    Dr Treanor thankfully, can get on with the important business of global travel & impressing the people of Bobbio, Italy.

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  11. I note that Fr Ciaran Dallat is to conduct further studies into the theology of the body. May I be permitted to ask whose body ( or bodies) ?

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    1. I think in his case the female body.

      Other clerics are involved in looking after the male bodies.

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    2. Can I ask contributors to this Blog to stop interfering in the private lives of priests.

      I have made it a hallmark of my episcopacy not to interfere in the private lives of priests. What priests do in private - with adults - is the concern of no one.

      +Bobbio

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    3. +Bobbio Are you a real person or a construct. Would you be a Fr Christmas person or a tooth fairy type-no insult intended!

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    4. Bobbio doesn't even concern himself with what priests do with adults even when it is not done in private and even when it is made public

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  12. With respect +Bobbio why should we listen to or pay heed to your requests. You and your fellow bishops have long since lost the high moral ground. With men in your ranks like Casey, Magee,Connell,Brady,Heggarty,Comiskey,Scotland's O'Brien ( ex Ballycastle) Conroy etc etc you don't deserve respect any more.

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    1. Cheeky Imp! I have never asked for or desired your respect!

      I have my fine palace, my European and World travel, my wines from Nicholsons of Crossgar etc.

      Thank God I have never had to wrestle with imps like you!

      +Bobbio

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  13. And this morning, in St Peter's Cathedral, the ridiculous farce continues with the absentee landlord, "Dean" Shuey Kennedy making one of his rare appearances (a bit like a sighting of Gypaetus barbatus - the 'bearded vulture' - in these parts). Wheeling himself out to impress the Yankee visitors, with his fine baritone voice, scintillating homiletics and the style and grace of a giant milk maid the way he swings thon thurible. Is +Bobbio going to allow this fiasco to continue for another year? What excuse will be dreamt up this time to justify the Dean's stepping in and stepping out again? Another extended "research" at Heythrop??

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    1. I would like to make it clear that Dean Kennedy has my full confidence.

      He proved himself absolutely essential to me when he helped me choose the curtains and the other textile items for my newly renovated retreat on Somerton Road.

      He also advised me on my purchases at Ballinderry.

      He has more taste in his little finger than most clergy have in their whole bodies.

      This is a typical case of those of low estate belittling a great and successful churchman.

      +Bobbio

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  14. I could never see the logic of clerical changes. What is the motivation and is it change for change sake. Is the welfare and good of the people and the cleric an element in the process

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  15. There's little logic to it Sean. It's all about exercising power and control.
    Toe the line. .......or else!
    Wouldn't it be grand if the clergy did a Pat Buckley and told Bobbio to sod off 'cos I'm staying put!

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  16. We cud learn from the Presbyterians they have no bishops and the congregation has a say who there minister is and if he or she turns out to be crap the kirk of session can fire there ass !

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  17. The Presbyterian idea is excellent. Firstly the ministers apply for a vacancy and then the candidates are given the opportunity to sell themselves and be assessed for suitability before the vacancy or selection committee and after that they can ( in their own jargon) " preach for the pulpit". At that stage those who are boring or monotone in delivery can be told thanks but no thanks. I have often wondered how many of our chaps if they had an go before a selection committee or audition would pass muster?

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    1. Over the years I have had a lot of dealings with the Presbyterians, the COI and the Methodists.

      I would have no inclination to join any of them.

      One would be abandoning the tyranny of the hierarchy for the tyranny of the elders, the vestry committee etc.

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  18. If Dean Kennedy goes to Ballyclare he will be thrilled to discover that the town is home to Ballyclare Victoria a world champion flute band.

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    1. Can the Dean play the flute?

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    2. He loves the aul' flute, does the Dean and he can get a fair squeak of out a sackbutt!

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    3. Now that you mention it - the Dean is somewhat of a Renaissance and Baroque figure.

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    4. Renaissance, baroque and burlesque! lol

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    5. How can you describe such a handsome and well dressed churchman as burlesque?

      Have you not see him in his Knight of Malta regalia?

      I know many young priests who would regard it as a privilege to both emulate him and serve under him.

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    6. The Dean minces his way through fantasy land in a number of ecclesiastical costumes with Mozart's Horn Concerto No. 4 in Eb major as a soundtrack!

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  19. And "under him" those young priests undoubtedly would be!

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  20. Are these really the changes that are to be announced or just made up ones?

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