Leadership Team: UPDATE

The ACP welcomes three new members of the Leadership Team — and  says farewell to P.J. Madden, who served so well during the past three years. Tony Flannery is staying on for the present, in view of the current health problems of Brendan Hoban.  Tony comments:  “We are glad to say that Brendan has come successfully through his operation, and we hope to see him back to full health before too long”.
Background of the three new Team members:
Gerry Alwill

•  Native of Killeshandra, Co. Cavan; ordained for the diocese of Kilmore in 1977.
• Member of the teaching staff of St Patrick’s College, Cavan, from 1978 until 2004 and served also as College Principal from 1997.
• In 2005 was appointed parish priest of Inishmagrath, a rural parish in Drumkeeran, Co Leitrim.
• Served two terms as Chair of the Kilmore Council of Priests.
• Has been a member of the ACP since it was founded three years ago, and in February 2011 was one of the ACP team that fronted the Association’s campaign to delay the introduction of the new translation of the Missal.
• Looking forward to working with the Leadership Team at a time when the profound changes in Rome seem to be offering of so much hope and promise within our Church.  As a representative of diocesan clergy, would hope to keep the main concerns of diocesan priests to the fore in the formulation of ACP policy.

Gerry O’Connor

• Native of Limerick
• Attended Saint Clements College in Limerick City.
•  Completed a B.Commerce in NUIG and then joined KPMG and worked as an auditor.
• Volunteered as an accountant with GOAL in the late 1980’s during the civil war in Sudan.
•  Joined the Redemptorits in 1990.  Worked in Somalia, South Sudan, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Angola during acute emergencies, wars, genocide, famine that afflicted these countries.  Worked also in Brazil for two years.
•  Ordained a priest in 1998.
•  Founding member of SERVE, a charity committed to development and volunteering.
• Founding member and Chair of Saint Ultan’s pioneering integrated Education & Care project in Cherry Orchard, Dublin 10.
•  Former Member of the Advisory board to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
• Chairperson of   the Audit Committee of the Department of Foreign Affairs for six years.
• Current member of the Early Years Strategy Expert Advisory Group advising the Minister for Children.
• Lives and works in Cherry Orchard parish in Dublin.
•  Coordinates the Redemptorist Solidarity Office for Africa and Madagascar.
•  Involved in youth initiatives in Dublin.  Loves rugby. Motivated by service. Likes living in community.  Lives with two Redemptorists and a German volunteer.
• Believes that the ACP has a critical role to play as a catalyst, motivator and persuader for new models of ministry and governance that helps the Church contribute in a meaningful way to people’s lives and Irish society.

Seamus Ahearne

1. Born in Portlaw, Co Waterford.
2. School locally and then New Ross with the Augustinians.
3. Joined the Augustinians in 1964.
4. Studied in Ballyboden, UCD, Rome, Heythrop (London).
5. Worked for a little while in Limerick and Drogheda.
6. Spent 21years in UK – Hoxton (London); Dundee; Edinburgh; Carlisle and 8 years as provincial (UK).
7. Back now in Rivermount (Finglas South) for the past 16 years.
8. Have worked in parishes for 38 years of the forty years of priesthood.

Seamus was asked what he would like to contribute to the ACP: his reply follows:
“The ACP’s vision of Church is my vision. The need for the ACP is obvious. I believe that if we have any pastoral sense or empathy in ministry; we must be there for each other. I believe that the heart of Church is Communion: We care for each other; we lift each other; we are there for each other. Christ is present in that Communion together. The way we work in Ministry has to be also the way we try to work in ministry with each other. And if Brendan Hoban’s article in the current edition of The Furrow sounds real at all, then we have to work together; we need each other and are needed by one another. I want to do so that and am convinced I have to. I also enjoy the banter and camaraderie. Companionship means that ‘we share the bread of life.’ Let’s do that. And I might even write a little!”