Posted online: Aug 31st, 2010

The curate of the parish Burt, Inch and Fahan has been elevated to parish priest.

Fr. Michael Porter has become PP of Leckpatrick  succeeding Fr. John Doherty (a previous curate of Burt, Inch and Fahan) who has retired.

Fr. Porter, a native of Buncrana, became CC of Burt, Inch and Fahan in 1997 and has overseen a number of parish projects, including the renovation of Inch church, the refurbishment of St. Mary’s Hall in Burt and the repair of Aegnus Church in Burt in which he recently celebrated his 25^th anniversary to the priesthood.

He was also instrumental in getting legendary Donegal singer Daniel O’Donnell to perform in a fundraising concert in the church.

Fr. Porter is succeeded as curate by Fr. Gerard Sweeney who has been transferred from the Glendermott parish in the Waterside area of Derry.

Derry-born Fr. Sweeney was ordained to the priesthood in in June 1993. After his ordination, he was curate in Melmount in Strabane until 1995 when he was appointed CC to Holy Family parish in Ballymagroarty, Derry where he remained until 1997 when he moved to St. Patrick’s parish (Pennyburn, Derry). In 2006, he was transferred to the parish of Killyclogher where he remained until September last year when he was appointed curate of Glendermott.

The change, the only one in Inishowen, is one of a number of clerical appointments announced by the Bishop of Derry, Most Rev. Dr. Seamus Hegarty.

The full list of changes is –

Right Rev Mgr Bryan McCanny VG, PP, Three Patrons, Derry, to become PP, Limavady;

Rev Michael McCaughey, CC, Glendermott (Waterside) to become PP, Three Patrons, Derry;

Rev Patrick Baker, CC, Maghera to become PP Lavey;

Rev Michael Porter, CC, Burt, Inch, Fahan to become PP, Leckpatrick;

Rev Michael Canny, currently Administrator, St Eugene’s Cathedral to become Administrator Templemore (St. Eugene’s Cathedral and St Columba’s, Long Tower);

Rev Kevin McElhennon, CC, Cappagh to become Administrator, Pro Tem, Cappagh;

Rev Joseph Gormley, CC, Dungiven to become CC, Cappagh;

Rev Francis Lynch, OP, CC, Holy Family, to become CC, Dungiven;

Rev Brian O’Donnell, Administrator, Lavey, to become CC, Maghera;

Rev Roland Colhoun, Administrator, Templemore (St Columba’s, Long Tower) to become CC, Glendermott (Waterside);

Rev Gerard Sweeney, CC, Glendermott (Waterside) to become CC, Burt, Inch, Fahan;

Rev Paul Farren, Priest in Residence, Leckpatrick (and Director of Diocesan Catechetical Centre) to become Priest in Residence, Glendermott (Waterside), while also remaining Director of Diocesan Catechetical Centre;

Deacon James Devine to become Deacon, Templemore;

Rev John Doherty, PP, Leckpatrick, to retire;

Rev Michael Collins, PP, Limavady to retire;

Rev Patrick McLaughlin, CC, Lavey to retire.