Monsignor Joseph McGuinness Appointed New Prior of Lough Derg

​Lough Derg has welcomed the announcement by Bishop Larry Duffy that Monsignor Joseph McGuinness has been appointed as the new Prior of Lough Derg. 

The appointment was confirmed today as part of Bishop Duffy’s annual clergy assignments for the Diocese of Clogher. Monsignor McGuinness will succeed Monsignor La Flynn, who has faithfully served as Prior of Lough Derg since October 2017. 

As Prior, Monsignor McGuinness will lead the spiritual and pastoral life of Lough Derg, one of Ireland’s oldest and most significant places of Christian pilgrimage, welcoming thousands of pilgrims each year to Station Island for the Three Day Pilgrimage, One Day Retreats and other programmes of prayer and reflection. 
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Bishop Larry Duffy expressed his gratitude to Monsignor La Flynn for his dedicated leadership over the past nine years and wished Monsignor McGuinness well in his new role. 

​Lough Derg is a special and holy place not just for our diocese but for people across Ireland and further afield. During the past nine years, Monsignor La Flynn has brought great vision to the role of Prior and built upon that vision in practical ways to ensure that this sacred space remains a special place of pilgrimage, prayer and encounter with the Lord in a world that is so much in need of authentic conversion and peace. Lough Derg has always been part of Fr La’s priestly ministry and the same can be said of his successor, Monsignor Joseph McGuinness, who I warmly welcome back to the diocese following his successful tenure as Executive Secretary of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference. Monsignor McGuinness has not only ministered on Lough Derg each year but has written an outstanding account of its history and its relevance to the Church and the world today.

​Monsignor McGuinness said he was honoured by the appointment and looked forward to serving the pilgrims and staff of Lough Derg in the years ahead. 

I thank Bishop Duffy for giving me the opportunity as Prior to lead the outstanding team at Lough Derg. Having worked on the island as a student and ministered there for many years as a priest, I am very conscious of the rich and ancient heritage of Lough Derg and its immense significance in the spiritual history of the Irish Church and the religious culture of Europe. It remains today a unique place of spiritual refreshment and hope, and a haven of peace and tranquillity for all who come. In the world of the 21st century its gifts are needed more than ever. I am deeply grateful for the immense work done by Monsignor La Flynn and his predecessors, who have not only guarded the richness of the spiritual heritage of Lough Derg but have also expanded the mission of the island and made it a place of welcome for all. I look forward to taking up this new challenge.

​Paying tribute to his predecessor, Monsignor McGuinness acknowledged the significant contribution Monsignor La Flynn has made to the life and ministry of Lough Derg, particularly in strengthening its pastoral outreach and guiding the pilgrimage through a period of renewal and challenge. 
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Monsignor La Flynn reflected on his time as Prior and thanked the many people who have supported the ministry of Lough Derg throughout his tenure. 

Apart from my four years on mission from Clogher to Kitui Diocese in Kenya, time on Lough Derg has been a feature of almost all my 50 years of priesthood. These past 9 years as Prior have brought me many blessings, not least in the team that I have been privileged to lead and in the countless pilgrims whom I have had the grace to accompany for some few steps along their pilgrimage of life.  I thank Bishop Larry Duffy for his personal support and encouragement to me over my tenure as Prior.  Since I first worked here as a priest in 1978, the very skyline of Station Island has changed dramatically with the building of the new hostel in the 1980s and of Davog House retreat centre that opened in 2004. More significant changes are in the additional spiritual programmes that now supplement the Lough Derg tradition, especially those that make Lough Derg accessible to younger pilgrims. While the Three Day Pilgrimage has remained faithful to its core disciplines of fast and vigil, prayer and penance, I believe that today’s pilgrims appreciate the quality of welcome and service, of liturgy and pastoral engagement that I believe are now characteristic of the Lough Derg that Monsignor McGuinness is so well placed to take forward.

On behalf of the Lough Derg community, staff and volunteers, warm appreciation is extended to Monsignor La Flynn for his years of dedicated leadership, pastoral care and faithful service. His commitment to welcoming pilgrims, nurturing the spiritual mission of Lough Derg and guiding its ministry has left a lasting legacy. 
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At the same time, the Lough Derg community warmly welcomes Monsignor Joseph McGuinness as the new Prior and assures him of its prayers and support as he begins this important ministry. Together with the staff and volunteers of Lough Derg, he will continue the long tradition of offering a place of pilgrimage, prayer, renewal and hope to all who come to this sacred island. 
Monsignor McGuinness will take up his appointment in the coming weeks.