I am pleased to announce today the Kildare & Leighlin diocesan clergy changes for 2026. 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 undoubtably 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 18th September next.
Fr. Tom Dooley, PP Portarlington & Emo to retire.
Fr. Yanbo Chen, SVD CC, The Cathedral Parish, recalled by the SVD Order.
Fr. Theodore Tomasik, SVD CC, The Cathedral Parish, recalled by the SVD Order.
Fr. Erik Ebot, SVD CC, Portlaoise, recalled by the SVD Order.
Fr. Eugen Dragas Tamas, CC, Portarlington & Emo returning to Iasi Diocese in Romania.
Fr. Ciprian Matei, CC, Portlaoise returning to Bucharest Archdiocese in Romania.
Fr. Joe O’Neill, PP, Kill to take sabbatical leave.
Fr. David Vard PP Stradbally taking personal leave of absence with my full support.
Fr. Pat Hughes, PP, Myshall & Clonegal, to become PP, Portarlington & Emo.
Fr. Andy Leahy, CC, Myshall & Clonegal, to become PP Myshall & Clonegal while continuing to reside in St. Patrick’s Missionary Society, Kiltegan.
Fr. Yohan Fernando, CC, Naas, Sallins and Two-Mile-House, to become Adm., Kill while remaining part of the team in Naas, Sallins and Two-Mile-House Pastoral Area.
Fr. Piotr Jakubiak, Polish Chaplain, to become CC in the Portarlington Mountmellick Pastoral Area, while continuing to support the Polish community.
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.
As previously announced (which came into effect on 1st August):
Fr. Sean Maher, PP Balyna, appointed to the staff of the Seminary, St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth.
Fr. Brian Kavanagh, CC, Allen & AP Newbridge, to become PP, Balyna.
Once again many thanks and blessings to all,
+Denis Nulty
12 August 2026