Thursday 19 April 2018

STRADBALLY PARISH

STRADBALLY PARISH

DIOCESE OF KILDARE AND LEIGHLIN


FATHER SEAN MAHER

LETTER FROM REGULAR BLOG READER:

Dear Bishop,

I have read your blog with interest over recent months and was wondering in your travels have you ever heard of a Fr Seán Maher who is currently a priest in the Kildare and Leighlin Parish. at present he is out on leave- he was the parish priest in Stradbally. There has been a lot of disquiet recently over the way he has acted in the parish and especially that he denounced the principal of one of the local schools- Timahoe ns from the pulpit. He is due to return to the parish in the next few weeks. 
yours
A very concerned parishioner






A Laois parish set to welcome Romanian priest
 -
 13th January 2018

BISHOP NULTY WITH ROMANIAN BISHOP AND PRIESTS



The Parish of Stradbally is all set to welcome a new priest this weekend.
Fr Marcelin Rediu, from Romania, will replace Parish Priest Fr Seán Maher who is set to travel overseas after Sunday mass where he will continue his studies.
Bishop Denis Nulty welcomed Fr Marcelin Rediu to Kildare & Leighlin diocese towards the end of November where he took up residence in the Cathedral Presbytery in Carlow.
While staying at the Cathedral parish he has become a familiar face at Cathedral where he has celebrated Mass regularly.
Fr Marcelin comes to the diocese having spent the last sixteen years ministering in parishes in Norway.
He was originally ordained for the Diocese of Iasi in Romania in 1998.
Fr Marcelin is the second priest from that diocese to serve in Kildare & Leighlin, he follows in the footsteps of Fr Eugen Dragos Tamas who arrived last August.
Fr Eugen currently resides in Tinryland and helps out in Askea and surrounding parishes as the need arises.
Last Sunday Bishop Denis introduced Fr Marcelin to the people of Stradbally at masses in Vicarstown, Timahoe, and Stradbally itself.
Fr Marcelin will cover the couple of months study leave which Fr Sean Maher commences this coming weekend.
While Fr Sean Kelly will take charge of the administration of the parish, Fr Marcelin will be a huge presence in every aspect of parish life.
Bishop Denis also envisages that Fr Marcelin will also cover some duties in neighbouring Portlaoise parish as the team there also assist in the programme of duty in Stradbally during Fr Sean Maher’s study leave. 

PAT:

Dear Xxxxxxx,

Thank you for your letter.

Does any reader have any more information on this matter?

Did Father Maher condemn a school principal from the pulpit? And for what?

Apparently, the Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin announced in January that Father Maher was going away for FURTHER STUDIES.

Now the parishioner tells us that Father Maher is coming back from those studies three months later in April.


That seems to be a very short academic course - three months?

In Father Maher's absence, the parish has been run by the retired PP - Father Kelly PE, CC and by a Romanian priest on loan to Kildare.

On this Blog before we have discussed about how priests seem to "disappear" either for a while or permanently.

The sequence of events in Stradbally are strange:

1. Father Maher appointed PP.

2. Alleged condemnation of school principal from pulpit.

3. Father Maher sent "overseas" for 3 months study.

4. Romanian priest appointed.

5. Father Maher is now, allegedly returning.

93 comments:

  1. I suppose it falls to me to ask the obvious question: What has this got to do with you Bishop Buckley?

    A Justifiable and respectful response please, incorporating how 'reporting' this on your blog serves the public interest.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Simply reporting what a parishioner and blog reader wrote.

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    2. Pat you're as mad as a box of frogs lol x

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    3. You mean some other mischief-making, gossiping old handbag, like yourself, with nothing better to do all day??

      You’re a joke.

      No sane person in this society takes seriously, you and the small farm of loons, trolls, wannabe oracles and keyboard warriors, you cultivate on your poisonous blog.

      Delete
    4. 9:30, I want to buy you a drink

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    5. As the Cure d'Ars bishop said:

      "I wish all my priests were half as mad" :-)

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    6. 9.30

      Why do you read the blog then?

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    7. Pat Buckley at 09:40 - the Cure of Ars you ain’t mate! Talk about delusional Lol.

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    8. Why do I read the blog? For the pure craic! Lol Much for the same reason I sometimes watch Coronation Street! Take it seriously? Naaaah!

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    9. 9.30 How do you carry around with you everyday that wonderful vocab?

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    10. 11:15

      But if they thought HE was mad!

      11:19

      I watch Corrie

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    11. How dare you!
      I *am* an Oracle, and what's more the other Magnas all agree!

      Delete
    12. Bishop Joe Duffy was an Oracle. I have bound sets of his pastoral letters from 1980 onwards. There are a few gaps though. Any blog readers interested in swaps?

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    13. I watch EWTN and Dave.

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    14. I have two copies of Bishop Duffy's 1989 Easter Pastoral Letter (one in mint condition, the other heavily underscored and with many notes in the margins. DM if interested).

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    15. And if anyone's interested in the Eastern Churches Quarterly from 1933, I've got a duplicate going spare.

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    16. I have copies of the "Mirabelle" from the 1950s! - - - and some "Dublin Opinions" which are more boring but good as draught excluders for the scullery door.

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  2. Well, if 'A very concerned parishioner' had any cop on they would contact the named padre/and or diocesan bishop. Instead they go out of their way to alert someone who has absolutely nothing to do with the parish in question. I think 'A very concerned parishioner' likes drama.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 9.21 You don't seem to be allowing for the trauma that would befall someone if they dared asked those questions of the local church. Can you not hear in several posts already this morning - how dare you ask these questions, it's none of your business.

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    2. 09.24 and 11.24 all the concerned parishioner need do is get in touch with John King of Londonderry, who is the blog's clerical changes editor and special envoy to Raphoe.

      Delete
  3. The public are entitled to know the facts, anybody in Public Office should be subjected to scrutiny. This is not a private matter it’s a public one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Because like your good self, he/she is probably a looney too

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    2. How is a priest holding a Public Office? Is he a like a Mayor, a Judge or a Government Minister?

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    3. The psychic here says "D C was on today.." but won't tell us any more except to say he's in "the shadow of very high hills.."
      How do we know if she is right? So frustrating! But you can't force them to say more .

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    4. Priests are not elected by the public .

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  4. Saints pray for Bishop Pat that he make walk in the ways of the wise

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What, 09:38? In the ways of Roman Catholic bishops who covered up and facilitated child sexual abuse? And in the ways of such bishops who allegedly spent between one and four million quid renovating and refurbishing (and how!) their large homes?

      Ha ha ha 😅

      JC! You couldn't make up this stuff in your headiest delusion. 😆

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  5. The alleged condemnation of someone from a pulpit is a very important matter.

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    Replies
    1. Your dead right pat. No one should ever be publicly condemned in front of others. What kind of man would go out of his way to publicly shame others. What a nasty PP that man is. He should try and be more like you Pat and mind his own business.

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    2. sarcasm much lol

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    3. 'What kind of man would go out of his way to publicly shame others.'

      erm...hint hint ;)

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    4. As Marshall would say : GROW UP!!!!

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    5. @ 10.01
      "..You're dead right.." is the correct form.

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    6. Marshall??

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    7. Stop mentioning me, now GROW UP!

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    8. Brendan Marshall, inexplicably a seminarian for Armagh, is 10% of the Maynooth College Chapel choir. I'm not making a snide remark about his weight. The choir has only 10 members now, so it's more of a chamber choir.

      Given that the college chapel is unused and locked up most of the year it could it be time for a name change.

      Many if not all of the sems mentioned on this blog have been members of that choir.

      There's an amazing story about a choir member and the junior infirmary in the 1980s.

      Pat knows all the details.

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    9. Pulpits come in many forms, Pat, including e-pulpits, such as this blog, from which you literally pontificate. Should we expect fewer condemnations from you?

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  6. @9.30 If you are opposed to the blog - why read it? Simple. Now get over yourself.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @9:45 Naaaah! Lol

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    2. I wonder would this topic have ever made it to the blog if there had been a little open transparency on the ground in Laois. Perhaps this blog should be required reading for all clergy - they might learn something and avoid many pitfalls.

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    3. @11.20 It’s clear you are very well educated by your choice of vocabulary when you keep saying Naaaah! More a village idiot I would say.

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    4. @13:50 Naaaaaaaahh! Lol Ps you’re a moron.

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  7. Very interesting, please keep us informed as I have family at that school.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Disregard my post there at 10:47 Pat - I got mixed up. I don't have family at that school. Other side of the country altogether.

      Delete
    2. Lol at 13.55 pretending to be poster at 10.47.
      Actually this has happened to a few of my posts on other blogs here.
      Maybe a days work would help your addiction.
      Impersonation of another...even if it anonymous...is not nice.
      Now grow up and stop destroying Pats blogs.

      Delete
    3. Sorry, Pat - I had some typos there in my post at 16.30. Of course I should have written, "Maybe a day's work..." and "...even if it is anonymous..." and "...stop destroying Pat's blogs".

      How embarrassing.

      Delete
    4. Maybe we all should call you apostrophe obsessed. Lol

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    5. Why, 20.39? Because I corrected an earlier mistake I made? So your response to someone acknowledging a mistake is name-calling and lol-ing? How mature.

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    6. 19:30 is making fun of 16:30.

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    7. I have no intention of putting apostrophes into my posts, so mock away.
      I did my A level English Lang and Lit over 60 years ago and never needed it since.
      My life has been full..enjoyed every day...still do.

      Delete
    8. Well, 22:43, if you've "no intention of putting apostrophes" into your posts, why did you correct your typos at 19:30?

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    9. Time for your bed methinks.
      I see you have been busy today even until midnight...
      Fun over for the day....Apostrophe Pete.

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  8. Maher is a biblical scholar and could well profit greatly from the three month research break, instead of having to handle busybodies spying out his every move.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Maher is a blessing to the Irish church and has much to teach us: https://www.thepastoralreview.org/index.php/issues/past-issues/36-november-december-2012/66-scripture-and-contemporary-catholic-theology-surveying-the-field

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  10. I really envy those who could take part in Fr Sean's pilgrimage to the sites associated with Saint Paul: http://www.rathkennyparish.ie/masses/readings-for-masses/839-in-the-footsteps-of-st-paul

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  11. I'm thinking "nine-bob note", +Pat.

    ReplyDelete
  12. S if you a pp you can use parishioners money to fund your foibles.
    Slate a hardworking teacher.
    Is this what we reduced nowadays.

    ReplyDelete
  13. 16:56 -- biblical scholarship, shared with many people, is just a foible? And we complain about the theological penury of the Irish Church!

    as to the teacher story, you don't know anything about it

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  14. Leave poor old SCHEIDE Maher alone.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat, I'm disappointed. It's the German word for a lady's special place.

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    2. And why would Father Maher be called after what Dame Edna called "front botty"?

      I'm intrigued.

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    3. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    4. I'm disappointed, Pat, that you allow such abuse on your site.

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    5. Those who call others obscene words show their own misogyny and their own entitlement to the abusive epithets they cast at others.

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    6. "Why would Father Maher be called after what Dame Edna called "front botty"?"

      I'm afraid Bishop Buckley has been called it far more often.

      Delete
  15. How do you know what I know.....????...17.22
    We now have miracles on here.
    Posters being able to read other posters minds.
    You couldn’t make it up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Let's all go on pilgrimage to Larne.

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    2. Anonymous at 19:07 -- the style of your message is that of one who has just heard the story alleged -- I'd be surprised indeed if you have info beyond what Pat's correspondent alleges. But to be sure you MAY have some thoughts that you haven't shared with us. If you haven't, then you have pounced quite unjustly and unfairly on Fr Maher.

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    3. @20:05 I agree... stopping at every truck stop en route.

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  16. Pat, could you please remove the word Scheide -- it is the equivalent of c**t. Childish obscenities have no place on a public site.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Obviously I am talking about the way the person who posted the word intended it to be understood -- as a coy way of using an indecent expletive.

      Delete
  17. When Magna Blue was a very small...whatever he is, old Ma Carter tried to explain facts of life to him. Unfortunately he got the wrong end of the stick and kept referring to his anus as his 'back vagina', to the amusement of all who heard about it. This probably explains his defensiveness about his masculinity...

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  18. No it doesn't. It's the non-vulgar German word for vagina. You introduced the C-word. Unless you know better than the compilers of this dictionary.

    https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.collinsdictionary.com/amp/german-english/scheide

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  19. I'll get one of the lads to pop over to the German Department for a ruling. Might take a while though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't bother to do that @ "Middle Dean"... Do something more worthwhile.. We already know how that word is in its common usage...

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    2. No, only for the vulgar, misogynist-minded. Your incorrect interpretation is not in common usage. But I'm so tired I'll wait for the verdict of the Maynooth German department.

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    3. What do you mean by " incorrect interpretation"? You are seeing things that are not there! You should just leave it, as the poster suggested. The poster did not give you ANY indication of which nuance of the word he/she believed to be the meaning in "common usage"
      But of course, you jumped straight in with your own (wrong) conclusion!Unbelievably stupid mistake....

      Delete
  20. It's sad when church focus shifts to scandals and who did what rather than the work of God. Of course wrong must be righted What was the alleged condemnation for

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  21. Oh, +Pat, I don't know whether I'm coming or going on this one. I am in a state of confusion.

    It's so much easier for your followers to understand their absence when Grindr, Chappy, or BlacksForDaddies are involved... anyone would.

    The purpose of this all-expenses-paid three-month a period of paid leave (by parishioners) should be thoroughly investigated.

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  22. Sooner or later, +Pat, you'll have to tell us what you know about this absentee-priest. Your followers don't scandlise easily.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Why can't this Fr Seán Maher come forward and explain himself to readers of this renowned blog? I wonder.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 23.44: What a ridiculous suggestion. Fr. Maher owes no one an explanation, least of all you or nosey Pat. Mind your own business.

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    2. Because it is far beneath any man's dignity to answer to a kangaroo court of middle-aged frustrated anonymi whose only residual lust is for gossip?

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  24. This story is just as baseless and mischievous as the ill-informed story about the Raphoe priest last week. Seán Maher is completing a doctorate in Scripture at Durham University, on which he has been working for a number of years.That is all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you.

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    2. Fr Maher is a v arrogant man who isnt wanted back in the parish- same thing happned in his last parish

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  25. Pat reading about some of the priests that drop off the face of the earth put me thinking. What ever happened to Fr. Michael Kennedy the CC in Dungarvan, Co Waterford who about 25 years ago spoke at the pulpit in his parish about a woman in the town who was sleeping with men in the area and passing on a HIV virus. I was looking at the Waterford and Lismore website and he is not listed on it. I know there is a Michael Kennedy PP listed but he is an elderly PP who is a long standing priest in Kilgobinet outside Dungarvan. If memory serves me right I read something some time back about him having to leave a parochial house in another parish. Richard Geoghegan who was on that show with Francis Brennan somewhere out foreign also seems to have gone missing from the website. Richard you might remember dressed in drag for the show.

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  26. Equally the diocese should say that is the case, i.e. Fr X studying X at X. Otherwise amateur detectives make bad sums.

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  27. The big problem is that you cannot gives details about Fr A on further studies, Fr B on sabbatical without saying Fr C reconsidering ministry after two year; or Fr D off getting married.

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