Priests with total of more than 160 years of service to retire

Diocesan Clerical appointments

Bishop Deenihan, in publishing the clerical changes for this year, paid tribute to Fr Sean Garland, Fr John Moorehead and Fr Terry Toner, who are retiring after a life of dedicated service to the Diocese of Meath.

Fr Garland has served as a priest for 70 years, Fr Moorhead for 45 years and Fr Toner for 50 years this year. While Fr Garland and Fr Moorehead will retire, Fr Toner will continue in Kilmessan as an Assistant Priest for the present.

Their retirements and the fact that there is no Ordination to Priesthood for the Diocese this summer is further evidence of the changing landscape in the Diocese.

Six priests have taken responsibility for Parishes where there is no resident priest in these changes: Fr John Conlon is Parish Priest of Drogheda, Holy Family and Donore, Fr Michael Meade is Parish Priest of Kilcormac and Eglish, Fr David Bradley is Parish Priest of both Nobber and Kilbeg, Fr Padraig McMahon is Parish Priest of Athboy and Clonmellon, Fr William Coleman is Parish Priest of both Rochfortbridge and Ballinabrackey, and Fr Martin Halpin is Parish Priest of both Summerhill and Kilmessan.

Moving is a difficult experience for priests and parishioners and Bishop Deenihan thanked the priests in question for their generosity.

He also encouraged parishes and parishioners to pray for and encourage vocations as without vocations, more parishes will be without priests in the near future.

Bishop Deenihan will be visiting all Pastoral Areas during June to meet priests and representatives of Parish Pastoral Councils to discuss how parishes can work together to ensure that Sacramental life remains and parishes retain their identity when there is no resident priest.

He pointed out that currently more than one third of the priests working in the Diocese are from outside it, on loan, or are over the retirement age for priests, which is 75.

Meath Diocesan Appointments 2025

Fr Sean Garland, PP, Clonmellon to retire.

Fr John Moorhead, PP, Eglish to retire.

Fr Terry Toner, PP, Kilmessan to be AP Kilmessan.

Fr John Conlon, PP Drogheda, to be PP Donore in addition.

Fr Michael Meade, PP Kilcormac, to be PP Eglish in addition.

Fr Padraig McMahon, PP Athboy, to be PP Clonmellon in addition.

Fr William Coleman, PP Rochfortbridge, to be PP Ballinabrackey in addition.

Fr David Bradley, PP Kells, to be PP Nobber and PP Kilbeg.

Fr Martin Halpin, PP Ballinabrackey, to be PP Summerhill and PP Kilmessan.

Fr Liam Malone, PP Nobber and PP Kilbeg, to be PP Duleek.

Fr Mark English, PP Duleek, to be PP Kells.

Fr Declan Kelly, CC Duleek, to be CC Kells and CC KiIskyre.

Fr Barry White, CC Mullingar, to be Diocesan Chancellor in addition.

Fr Eusebiu Tulbure, CC Navan, Diocese of Iasi, Romania, recalled for new appointment in Dublin.

Fr Robert Badau, Diocese of Iasi, Romania, to be CC, Navan.

Fr Yohanna Jacob, AP Summerhill, to be AP Moynalvey.

Fr Jinse Jose, Indian Chaplaincy, to be CC Ballinabrackey.

Rev Anthony Kerr, Deacon to Navan Parish.

Fr Vincent McKay, CSSp, CC Summerhill, to return to Spiritan Congregation.

Fr Wojciech Jaisonek, CC Moynalvey, to return to Poland.