Northern Ireland

Bishop of Down and Connor Alan McGuckian announces diocesan changes

The changes follow a review of the ‘pastoral needs of the people of the diocese’

Bishop Alan Mc Guckian during his first visit to St. Mary's as the new Bishop of Down and Connor to say the Mass celebrating the last day of the Novena to the Sacred Heart. Bishop Alan blessed a sculpture that was donated to St. Mary's, as a place outside which some of our homeless, needy and substance addicted friends in the city will often be seen sitting on the ground with their hand out looking for help. The sculpture is called, 'I Was Hungry and Thirsty' (Matthew 25) by the famous Canadian sculptor, Tim Schmalz, who, among other things, is famous for the well-known 'Homeless Jesus on the Bench' sculpture and the 'Welcoming the Stranger' migrant sculpture in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. PICTURE COLM LENAGHAN
Bishop Alan Mc Guckian has announced the changes for the Diocese of Down and Connor. PICTURE: COLM LENAGHAN
By Suzanne McGonagle

Bishop of Down and Connor Alan McGuckian has expressed “every blessing and good wish” to a number of priests set to retire or take on new appointments in the diocese.

He announced a number of clerical changes after a review of the “pastoral needs of the people of the diocese of Down and Connor” was carried out.

Among those retiring are Fr Sean Gilmore, parish priest of Lower Mourne (Glasdrumman and Ballymartin) and Fr John McManus, parish priest of Strangford (Kilclief), who will both become pastor emeritus.

Other changes, which come into effect from August 31, will see Fr Paul Morely, who is assistant priest in the parish of St Bernadette and Holy Rosary and chaplain to the Syro-Malabar community, return to his home diocese in India.

Among the new appointments are Fr Aidan Brankin, who will become parish priest of Saul and Ballee, Fr Colin Crossey to become PP in Lower Mourne and Fr Robert McMahon to become administrator of the parish of Christ the Redeemer.

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Fr Anthony McAleese is to become administrator of the St Oliver Plunkett Parish in west Belfast and serve as chaplain in the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, while Fr Andrew Black is to pursue doctorate studies in sacred scripture.

Fr Anish Mathew and Fr Jose Bharanikulangara, both originally from India, will become chaplains to the Syro-Malabar Community as well as take on new assistant priest roles in the Drumbo and Carryduff parish and the St Bernadette and Holy Rosary parishes.

Bishop McGuckian said: “I would like to record my thanks to all involved in and affected by these appointments for their co-operation and I wish them God’s blessing, good health and fulfilment in their respective ministries.

“With every blessing and good wish.”