Clergy appointments – October 2020

Press releases

Bishop Stephen Robson has made the following appointments in the Diocese of Dunkeld.

St Fillan’s Newport and Star of the Sea, Tayport

Mgr Martin Drysdale is to retire as parish priest around the end of October, 2020 from St Fillan’s Newport and Star of the Sea, Tayport.  I would like to wish Martin the very best of peace and joy in retirement and I know that, once his health has recovered more, he will be able to help out here and there with supply work. Mgr. Martin is a fine priest and has served the Diocese of Dunkeld for very many years.  He is a great pastoral priest and is much loved, not only by the many parishioners whose lives he has touched, but also by the priestly fraternity.

As an interim measure, I wish to appoint Fr Samuel Alabi as priest to provide supply cover in Tayport and Newport until more permanent arrangements can be confirmed.  This will mean a necessary rearrangement of Mass times in the interim.

I also thank Fr Samuel for his co-operation and commitment.

St Thomas’, Arbroath

Father Joseph James OFMCap will be leaving St Thomas’, Arbroath on Thursday, 8th October, 2020 where he has been for the past four years as Administrator and Parish Priest while completing his studies in Psychology.  His Superior has asked him to return to Kerala. Please pray for his brother also who has contracted Covid 19. I wish to thank Fr Joseph for his pastoral care of Arbroath, together with Fr Peter and Fr Victor while they were here.

Father Andrew Marshall who is currently completing his Licence in Biblical Theology in Rome, is to return to be priest-in-residence in St Thomas’ Arbroath while he completes his Licence and Tesina on-line until after Christmas. In the meantime, Canon Kevin Golden is appointed Administrator of St Thomas’ Arbroath until Christmas. He will also act as mentor to Fr Andrew in the parish until he finishes his Licence.  Canon Kevin’s appointment as Administrator will begin as from 8th October, 2020 and Fr. Andrew Marshall will return from Rome this week so that he is able to take up his appointment .