'You'd be emotional' - Fr Jim Murphy prepares for new life chapter - Kilkenny Live

A number of priests in the Diocese of Ossory in County Kilkenny are preparing for a new chapter in their lives as parishes welcome new priests from next weekend. - READ MORE HERE

The news has been met with a cocktail of emotions in the local parishes as communities lose friends, while for others, the curtain comes down on decorated careers.

In St Canice's, locals across the local community came to join in celebration as Fr Jim Murphy concluded his final Sunday mass after 21 years in the parish.

"It's inevitable you’d be emotional, but I try to keep it light-hearted, because I didn’t want people to be drowning in sorrow," Fr Murphy told the Kilkenny People, recalling fondly meeting many people and being given the opportunity to share many conversations, laughs and memorable family occasion along the way.

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During over two decades of service to the people of the parish, Fr Murphy has seen changes not only outside the church, but inside god’s house too.

"One of the highlights was the renovation of the church here," he recalled.

"That was a huge event, and it involved a whole lot of people with an awful lot more expertise than me and I'm delighted that they were able to put their gifts and their expertise, made it available to the community, because the church belongs to all of us," Fr Jim said, adding, "the people make the church, not buildings."

"The priest really is the co-ordinator of the whole thing, and a lot of it relies on how well you relate with the people.

"It's a ministry of care and trying to inspire people with the values of the Gospel. So it’s really sharing your life, that's why we are living celibate lives because we want to be totally committed to serving the church and serving the people of God," Fr Murphy continued.

The outgoing St Canice’s priest has been wearing the collar for over 50 years. In that time, cherished memories have been created but the devotion to God hasn’t come without sacrifice.

"You must be available to people. I was delighted to see the gardaí on Sunday (after the mass) but it reminded me of very serious situations and the gardaí would ring me. That would be when there are tragic deaths, those kind of situations.

"The gardaí would avail of my services to comfort people and to bring the news to people," he explained.

"You have to have a certain distance," Fr Murphy continued.

"You can’t become emotionally involved, it would wreck you if you did."

Looking forward and a new journey beckons. After serving in Tullaherin, Rathdowney, Clara and latterly in St Canice's, Fr Jim will now make the short journey to Thomastown, assisting with Chaplaincy in Grennan College, St Columba’s Hospital as well as continuing his services with Loreto and CBS Kilkenny.

"I'm looking forward to it. I'll have time to do a bit of gardening," he said, revealing he may return to beekeeping after many years.

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Fr Jim pictured in Loreto Secondary School last week