Fr Ed Grimes CSSp retires as National Director of World Missions Ireland

 Fr Ed Grimes CSSp has retired as National Director of World Missions, Ireland - the work of the Pontifical Mission Societies. He has spent the last twelve years as National Director. During his time in Africa he was Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies for Sierra Leone, Liberia and the Gambia for eleven years.

World Missions, Ireland is the official Church organisation for assisting evangelisation and it is among the oldest charities in the country. Fr Grimes is a strong advocator for our missionaries. "Missionaries are ambassadors of the local Church," he said. "They represent the mission outreach of the Church in Ireland and help us fulfil the obligation to be involved in mission. Keeping our great missionary tradition alive renews our own faith."

"The most humbling aspect of the work here is the poor people who hand in money when they have very little themselves," he said. "The Christian community here show its solidarity with the Churches in the mission areas through support of the Pontifical Mission Societies, especially on Mission Sunday."

Fr Grimes will be sadly missed by all the staff of World Missions, Ireland who wish him every blessing as he begins his well-earned sabbatical.

Fr Gary Howley SPS is the new National Director. He is a member of St Patrick's Missionary Society; also known as the Kiltegan Fathers. He completed his term as Regional Superior for the Society's Region of Ireland in 2008. Before that he was editor of Africa: St Patrick's Missions for eleven years. He also spent some years on mission in Nigeria and, later, in Zambia. 

"It is an honour to be chosen for this important work," he said. "Fr Grimes and his predecessor, Fr Seamus Galvin CSSp, have been tireless advocates for our missionaries, to say nothing of those who went before them. We have a wonderful tradition of mission here in Ireland and our faith has been enriched beyond measure by our looking beyond our own country and our own needs. As Director of World Missions, Ireland, I look forward to encouraging spiritual and practical support in building-up Christian communities throughout the world."