Saul priest appointed new rector at Clonard Monastery

A LOCAL priest has been appointed as the new rector of Clonard Monastery, Belfast.

Fr Brendan Kelly, who is originally from Saul near Downpatrick will take up the post in May.

Fr Kelly has worked as secretary general of the Redemptorist Congregation in Rome for the last ten years.

Before that, he was vice-secretary general of the Congregation in Rome, a position he took up in 2011.

Before working in Rome, Fr Kelly worked in various ministries, missions and retreats in the Cebu province of the Philippines.

He succeeds Fr Peter Burns, who is stepping down as rector in May, after holding the position fora decade.