St. Mark's Catholic Church

Father Dan Kelly takes a leave 

 

Laurent Robillard-Cardinal

St. Mark's Catholic Church parishioners received surprising news during mass, January 25. Father Dan Kelly announced he is taking a break. “I was very surprised when I heard the news,” said Ricardo Barajas, a church warden. “I don’t know why he’s taking a sabbatical month. Yes, most parishioners do like Fr. Kelly.” It was suggested by Gatineau’s Roman Catholic Archdiocese that Fr. Kelly take a month off. “He was experiencing stress-related problems. I told him I would find him a replacement for a month,” said Archbishop Paul-André Durocher. Retired Father Bob Smith will take over for February.

 

“They are the regular stresses of a pastoral life. No one approached me asking him to leave the church,” clarified Archbishop Durocher, adding that Fr. Kelly had seldom taken holidays since his nomination. St. Mark's Pastoral Associate is also taking a month off, said Durocher. Seemingly, the holiday season was tiring and some rest is in order.

 

Fr. Dan Kelly, in his mid 40s, joined the Aylmer church in fall, 2012, after Father William Marrevee retired from St-Mark’s.  Archbishop Durocher had initially nominated 66-year-old Father Lomer-J Rooney as pastor for the Aylmer parish, September 1, 2012, to run until August 31, 2018. However, because of the move needed, the heavier workload, and a stressful summer, Fr Rooney declined the offer and returned to Our Lady of Annunciation where Fr. Kelly had served over the 2012 summer. The Bulletin called the church to talk to Fr. Kelly, but staff there said he was unavailable.