Three parishes in Kerry Diocese to each lose a priest

Three parishes in the Kerry Diocese are each to lose a priest in the latest round of transfers and changes announced by Bishop Bill Murphy.

The number of clergy in Rathmore parish is being reduced from three to two and from two to one in both Caherciveen and Dingle.

Fr Gearoid Godley, the diocese’s co-ordinator of pastoral development, conceded there would be “quite a challenge” facing the remaining priests in those parishes. “While there are now fewer priests, people’s expectations are still the same,” he said. “The workload remains the same and is even more challenging in some ways. What is encouraging, however, is the increased involvement of lay people in parishes.”