Ards and North Down Borough Councillor Joe Boyle has described the news of the return of Portaferry’s Fr John Mc Manus to his ministry, now carrying out his duties and above all celebrating Mass with parishioners, as the best ever Christmas present that the community could have received.
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Ards and North Down Borough Councillor Joe Boyle has welcomed Fr John McManus back to his ministry in Portaferry.[/caption]He said: “This is fantastic news for everyone and came as a total surprise whenever, known locally as ‘ Fr John ‘ celebrated Mass along with Bishop Noel Treanor in Portaferry at the Saturday evening Vigil Mass and at the Sunday morning Mass at Ballygalget.
“I have known Fr John Mc Manus for many years where he lives as a neighbour a short distance from me and would see him regularly along with his family relatives tending to his farming requirements. He has a extensive family circle throughout the Ards Peninsula, all good decent hard working and respected people who along with the community and surrounding areas have stood shoulder to shoulder with him through this ordeal and we are all absolutely delighted with the outcome of these findings.
“The past four years have no doubt been incredibly difficult for Fr John and indeed his extended family since allegations of abuse were first targeted towards him and the Church authorities in January 2011 where he voluntary stepped aside in March 2011 to allow the due process of an enquiry to take place. In June 2012 the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) indicated there was no case to answer and the subsequent Canonical Judicial Inquiry determined that there was nothing to prevent Fr John from returning to his ministry.”
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Fr John McManus is now carrying on his duties in his Portaferry parish.xa0[/caption]“Councillor Boyle added: “In some ways the measure of Fr John was evident for everyone to hear at the weekend Masses whenever he said “we pray for each other, for those who have been hurt or neglected by the Church, for all who are suffering in the world and for the Church under the leadership of Pope Francis”. xa0During this period of enquiry that he had been ”very much at home living here among you. I wish to thank especially my family, my neighbours and friends of all faiths and none, for their support and kindness shown to me during this time.”
“I know that I speak for the parishes and parishioners of Portaferry, Ballygalget and Ballycran and everyone who knows Fr John within the Ards Peninsula and further, whenever I say ‘ welcome home Fr John ‘ we all missed you and it’s great to have you back.”.
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