Popular Offaly priest to depart in Diocesan reshuffle

A well-known local priest will be transferring from Offaly to the north of Roscommon next month in one of the clerical changes that were announced today (Wednesday) by the Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois.

Fr Tom Cox has been serving in the Faithful County for many years, most recently as the Administrator of Clonmacnois parish, which includes Shannonbridge and Clonfanlough.

He has now been appointed as parish priest in the Roscommon parish of Kilronan, which takes in the areas of Keadue, Arigna and Ballyfarnon.

The current parish priest in Ferbane, Fr Peter Burke, will be remaining on in that role but will also be assuming the duty of administering the Clonmacnois parish following Fr Tom Cox's departure.

A new arrival in Clonmacnois, Shannonbridge and Clonfanlough will be Fr Michael Alanga, from Pankshin, Nigeria, who will be joining the parish as a curate.

Another change in this round of appointments will see Fr Reji Kurian, who is currently a curate in the parish of Ballinahown, move a relatively short distance to take up a similar position in the Westmeath parish of Moate and Mount Temple.

The appointments will take effect from August 24 next.

Announcing the changes, the Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois, Paul Connell, said: "I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the priests of the diocese who have so generously agreed to take on extra responsibilities.

"As a diocese we continue to prepare for the future, and as part of that process I am issuing a pastoral letter to the diocese this coming weekend," he added.