Bishop Fintan Gavin issues this message to the diocese today regarding the establishment of the Office for Mission and Ministry.
As part of the initial strategic changes in the Diocese I appointed Canon Robert Brophy as Episcopal Vicar for Mission and Ministry with the task of establishing an Office for Mission and Ministry. This is in response to the changing needs of the Diocese as it enters into a period of renewal enabling people to become missionary disciples with co-responsibility for our parishes and build faith communities into the future.
The Pastoral Development Office which will be integrated into the new Office for Mission and Ministry has served the Diocese and its parishes well over many years. It was established after an extended period of consultation in the early 2000’s to respond to the pastoral needs of the Diocese at that time. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have worked in the Pastoral Development Office since its earliest days. I wish to thank Fr Tom Hayes, Fr Sean O’Sullivan and Fr Charlie Kiely who have served as Directors of Pastoral Development.
I want to take this opportunity to thank Sr Karen Kent for her work over the last fifteen years in the Pastoral Development Office.
It is now time to set out on a new journey for the Diocese and its parishes. The Office for Mission and Ministry will support the Diocese and its parishes to be evangelising faith communities. I ask you to pray for this new beginning as we continue to discern how God is calling us to build His Kingdom at this time and for this generation.