Popular Laois priest to leave parish
Fr David Vard is taking personal leave from his role as parish priest of Stradbally. File image
POPULAR Laois priest Fr David Vard will say farewell to his parish next month, amid major clerical changes announced today.
After less than a year as parish priest of Stradbally, Fr Vard will take personal leave of absence with effect from Friday, 18 September.
Meanwhile, also popular but somewhat older Fr Tom Dooley is to retire as parish priest of Portarlington and Emo, while curate Fr Ciprian Matei will leave Portlaoise and return to his native Romania.
The imminent changes were announced on Wednesday, 12 August by Bishop Denis Nulty of the Kildare & Leighlin diocese, as he confirmed a number of retirements, departures and new appointments.
At a time of rapidly declining vocations and a severe shortage of priests, Bishop Nulty said he has been in contact with a number of international priests whom he hopes will be in a position to take up appointments in the diocese.
No time frame has been given for Fr Vard’s temporary personal leave but his departure will be widely regarded as a major loss to the parish of Stradbally, which also takes in Timahoe and Vicarstown.
He was officially appointed parish priest last October, having spent two years as parish administrator. He quickly became the life and soul of the community, organising the first Stradbally Parish Picnic and getting involved in countless groups and causes, including the Timahoe Male Choir.
He even did a group skydive at 10,000 feet to raise funds for new sound systems for all three churches in Stradbally, Vicarstown and Timahoe. He is also remembered for a powerful interview on T on RTÉ television, during his early years in the priesthood.
A native of Newbridge, Co Kildare, Fr Vard became the youngest priest in Ireland when he was ordained in June 2017 at the age of 25. He was ordained in his hometown by Bishop Nulty and was immediately appointed curate in Portlaoise parish. He was greatly missed in Portlaoise when he moved to Stradbally in August 2023 to become parish administrator.
In Portarlington and Emo, Fr Dooley will be replaced as parish priest by Fr Pat Hughes, who is currently parish priest of Myshall and Clonegal in Co Carlow, while curate Fr Eugen Dragas Tamas will return to the Diocese of Iasi in Romania.
Fr Piotr Jakubiak, who serves as Polish Chaplain, will also become a curate in the Portarlington-Mountmellick pastoral area while continuing his work supporting the Polish community.
Announcing the diocesan moves, Bishop Nulty said: “These changes are challenging on all fronts, and I cannot express enough how grateful I am for the cooperation, generosity and understanding from all our clergy.
“With a big reduction in the number of priests available this year, I am reminded of just how much each priest gives of himself when appointed to a parish.
“This is never taken for granted and we should always be thankful for their work and ministry.
“Clergy who are moving and those who are taking on more, have my deepest respect and support.
“Going forward parishes will undoubtedly be without a resident priest and so with fewer clergy it is more important than ever to pray for our priests and to encourage vocations.
“I am in contact with a number of international priests who hopefully will be in a position to take up appointments in the diocese over the coming months.
“I ask you to keep all our priests and deacons in your prayers, to help them and to support them at this important time in our diocese. The changes come into effect on Friday, 18 September next.” The changes announced today are:
PORTARLINGTON AND EMO • Fr. Tom Dooley, PP Portarlington and Emo to retire • Fr. Eugen Dragas Tamas, CC, Portarlington and Emo returning to Iasi Diocese in Romania • Fr. Pat Hughes, PP, Myshall and Clonegal, to become PP of Portarlington and Emo • Fr. Piotr Jakubiak, Polish Chaplain, to become CC in the Portarlington/ Mountmellick Pastoral Area, while continuing to support the Polish community PORTLAOISE • Fr. Erik Ebot, SVD CC, Portlaoise, recalled by the SVD Order • Fr. Ciprian Matei, CC, Portlaoise returning to Bucharest Archdiocese in Romania • Fr. Petru Medves, CC, Abbeyleix, Ballinakill & Raheen, to become also CC, Portlaoise. The three curates in Portlaoise (Fr. Adriano de Oliveira, Fr. Simon Jin and Fr. Petru Medves) will assist in ministry in the wider Pastoral Area STRADBALLY • Fr. David Vard PP Stradbally taking personal leave of absence
