Following our initial introduction to the necessity of lay involvement in church ministry, we are holding a meeting of all interested members of our parish community, in the meeting room in St. John the Baptist Church on Tuesday 7 February at 7.30pm. Fr. Michael Collins will speak on the situation that exists in the church today, and the possible vision for the future. We would ask everyone who can,
to consider attending this meeting to help understand the situation in the church
today.

It is with enormous sadness we have learned of the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

The former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger ascended to the Papacy during challenging times for the world and those whose trust was betrayed by some members of the church. He became Pope during a time of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. He became the spiritual leader of the world’s Catholics following the lengthy tenure of the popular Pope John Paul II.

Possessed with a towering intellect but yet a deeply humble individual at a personal level, Pope Benedict XVI, apparently the ultimate traditionalist, broke with one of the most sacred traditions of his office when he faced the reality of his physical and emotional health and announced his resignation in the Spring of 2013.

In the great tradition of Catholic communities, we in Nenagh Parish join our sisters and brothers across the world in prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI as the angels carry him home to the house of the Father.

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.