Bishop Fintan Monahan has announced the appointment of Father Des Hillery, Parish Priest of Nenagh, as his Vicar General.
Speaking about the appointment Bishop Monahan said, “I am happy to call upon the experience of Father Hillery in assisting with the administration of the Diocese. I am very grateful that he has accepted to take on the role at this time along with his work as Parish Priest of Nenagh. His gentle and effective leadership during his time as Administrator of the diocese was a great source of encouragement to the clergy and people before my appointment as bishop.
“Father Des brings a breadth of vision and experience to his appointment. He has a great knowledge of the local church from his time in education and parish work in Saint Flannan’s College and Nenagh while his missionary experience in Latin America gives him a wider consciousness of the needs of the universal church. As I make the appointment in this World Missions Month I am reminded of the theme that Pope Francis has chosen that every Christian is a missionary. It is my prayer that Father Des will continue to be an effective missionary of good news in his new role.”
Bishop Monahan went on to explain that the appointment of Vicar General is the first appointment in a process of renewal that always follows the appointment of a new bishop. He said, “I am also currently working on the renewal of the Diocesan Pastoral Council and the Council of Priests and ask that the people of the Diocese would keep in their prayers, me and all those who take on leadership roles in this Diocese of KIllaloe.”
Responding to his appointment Father Hillery said, “I am privileged and humbled by the trust that Bishop Fintan has placed in me. I look forward to working closely with him in continuing to serve the people of this diocese and in building up a Christian community where Gospel values can flourish.”
ENDS
