Scottish Catholic Observer

Fr Anthony Gallagher (above left) is replacing Fr Kane (above right), who has served as an assistant priest for the past eighteen months in Dumbarton.

Fr Gallagher, who will assist Canon Gerry Conroy at St Patrick’s, is originally from Clydebank. The new assistant priest was ordained to the priesthood in 2006 and is currently in post at Christ the King parish in King’s Park in Glasgow, where the Dumbarton-born Canon Peter Gallagher is the parish priest.

The latest change of priests was announced by the Archbishop Mario Conti, whose role it is to oversee clerical appointments in Glasgow Archdiocese.

Canon Conroy spoke very kindly of Fr Kane, who became much loved by the parishioners of St Patrick’s following his appointment to replace Fr Frank Wilson, who is now the parish priest of St Patrick’s Church in Old Kilpatrick.

“We wish to thank Fr Kane for the contribution he has made to out parish,” he said. “His good humour and approachability was much appreciated here. His hard work and commitment to spreading the Good News gives us encouragement and hope for the future.”

Fr Kane said he is looking forward to starting at Holyrood Secondary School, one of Scotland’s largest and highest achieving Catholic schools, in February when Fr Gallagher—who himself has been heavily involved in youth work—takes up his appointment in Dumbarton.

“I have enjoyed my stay in Dumbarton and I want to thank everyone for being so kind to me,” Fr Kane said. “I’ll miss the priests and people of St Patrick’s.”

Fr Gallagher expressed his sadness at leaving his current post and his anticipation of his new role.

“It will be a big wrench to leave my present post in King’s Park, but I am looking forward to taking up my appointment in Dumbarton in February,” he said.