Crowds gathered at Clonard in west Belfast yesterday to watch the installation of a new rector.
Parishioners watched as the official handover took place between the outgoing rector, Fr Noel Kehoe and the new incoming rector, Fr Peter Burns.
It was announced last month that Fr Kehoe, who has been Rector of Clonard since April 2015, was to move to Dundalk to take up the role of Administrator and Rector at St Joseph’s Parish.
The Newry-born Redemptorist had described his time at Clonard as a "significant training ground".
Yesterday, Fr Kehoe officially handed over to incoming Rector Fr Peter Burns, who is already well known to the Clonard community.
Speaking after, Fr Kehoe said he was "full of gratitude" for his time at Clonard.
"I feel really blessed but looking forward to my new mission," he said.
Looking ahead to his time as Rector of Clonard, Fr Peter Burns said he hoped Clonard "will be all it has been and all it needs to be into the future".
