The Synthesis of the Consultation in Ireland for the Diocesan Stage of the Universal Synod 2021-2023 has been forwarded to the General Secretariat of the Synod, in Rome, and published by the Catholic Church in Ireland.

The 29-page document is the result of Synodal Pathway conversations at Parish, Diocesan, and national level, among the faithful in Ireland, on the future of our global church.

During the past year, the Nenagh Parish Pastoral Council invited all parishioners to contribute their thoughts and responses in person or to a dedicated online questionnaire. The level of the response was encouraging as parishioners took the opportunity to voice their opinions on pressing matters such as inclusivity and mission.

The responses from Nenagh Parish were collated and sent to the Synodal Pathway team at Diocesan level in Ennis. The Nenagh report fed into a Diocesan report, which was in turn taken to national level.

That national report, published this week, can be accessed here.

It is with a heavy heart that we learn today that Fr Des Hillery will be leaving Nenagh after ten great years as our Parish Priest/Co-PP.

The 2022 Killaloe Diocesan appointments this afternoon, stated that “Fr. Pat Gilbert, returning from leave of absence will be Co-PP in Odhrán Pastoral area and VF and to reside in Nenagh” will succeed Fr Des.

As spiritual leader of our Catholic community during the past decade, Fr Des has steered the parish through periods of enormous change and challenge.

Among the most serious difficulties was a lightening strike that caused serious damage to St Mary of the Rosary church in 2014. His cool, reasonable and rational approach to the problems thrown up by that calamity not only saw the repair of the damage but a continuation of the restoration plans that leave our church in such a wonderful condition today.

Without question, his most immense, and indeed sombre challenge, was to guide us all through the dark days of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the early lockdowns. Preaching to a camera in empty churches is not what any priest signs up for. Along with Fr Michael and Fr Rexon, Fr Des managed to extend the hand of friendship, solace, comfort, and indeed the promise of better times to come, to a frightened and lonely parish.

As he departs for his next adventure – a short sabbatical followed by a return to parish ministry in the diocese in early-2023 – Fr Des leaves an extraordinary legacy. The recent magnificent restoration of St John the Baptist church, mainly his brainchild, has been widely welcomed across the parish community. The reconfiguration of the use of parish property on church road, and elsewhere in the town, has enhanced community life and opened new possibilities for community groups.

Above all, his friendly presence on the streets of Nenagh, on his bike, has truly made him “one of our own”. We shall miss him and we know, when he returns to Ireland from his sabbatical, he will not be a stranger to Nenagh.

When we have time to process this news, Nenagh Pastoral Council will announce a proper tribute and public event at which the people of our community can express their thanks to Fr Des Hillery.

Congratulations to all our young people in the CBS, Convent of Mercy and Gaelscoil who celebrated their Communion for the First Time and to the young people in the CBS and Convent of Mercy who celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation recently. A word of appreciation to the principals, teachers and all the staff in the schools along with the Parish Team and the parishioners who made the ceremonies so meaningful. Please continue to keep them in your prayers along with our young people preparing to celebrate the sacraments in the coming weeks.

In light of the recent announcement by Bishop Fintan of the diocesan changes and the significance for Odhran Pastoral Area, we as a group of parishes are being asked to adapt to the ever-changing challenges facing us. The priests of Odhran Pastoral Area met and discussed the current situation. The decision of the meeting was to fulfil the existing schedule of Masses in each parish for a period up to the beginning of Advent (28 November). In the meantime, we are being asked to make ourselves aware of the challenges facing us, pray that we be guided by the Holy Spirit in discerning the current situation and deciding as a Pastoral Area as to what is the achievable goal in our living out of our baptismal calling as a Christian community.
This period will be an opportunity for each parish Pastoral Council and the Odhran Area Pastoral Council to meet and discuss the situation. It is only through prayer, discernment and discussion that we will reach our agreed approach. The reason we will have to decide by the end of November is that in fulfilling the current Mass schedule there is no scope for a priest being unavailable for the schedule. This means that in the event of illness, holiday or other commitments the current schedule is not possible to fulfil. We need, therefore, to construct a schedule that allows for all such eventualities. The time ahead is valuable in that it allows us as a Pastoral Area to work together and discern where the Holy Spirit is leading us. We are all invited to pray that we be given the gift of discernment and courage to face the future.

Note: From August 2021, three priests will be allocated to minister in Nenagh, Templederry, Youghalarra (comprising Newtown and Ballywilliam) and Portroe parishes.

The Diocese of Limerick presents a webinar, Exploring the Role of Women in Church Leadership, this coming Monday, 10 May, at 7.30pm.

Members of the Nenagh Parish Covid Management Group met last night to sign off on final confirmation that Worship in Person will return in our churches from next Monday at 8am in St Mary of the Rosary. Our very own Parish Army of Volunteer Stewards and Sanitizers stand ready to go back into service and keep you all safe as you return to Mass. All of the same guidelines that you all respected so well last year will apply once more. The regulations allow for just 50 people so if you get to the door and the church is full, perhaps you might drop back for the next Mass. We cannot tell you how excited we are to see all our lovely parishioners in person again…let’s hope it’s for good this time! Spread the word…

As you know by now, following the government’s latest announcement, Mass in the presence of a congregation will return to Ireland very soon. In response to this excellent news, the Nenagh Parish Covid Management Group will meet virtually this Friday evening to commence the work of ensuring a safe return in our parish churches. While we are all still required to return under conditions of safety (ie., 50 max in attendance, physical distancing, mask-wearing, etc.), we all hope and pray that this is the beginning of the end of our enforced absence from communal worship. We will continue to update you here.