30.01.2018
New Rector Appointed to Holy Trinity, Killiney
The appointment of the new Rector of Holy Trinity, Killiney, has been announced. The Ven Gary Hastings, who is currently Rector of Galway and Kilcummin Group and St Nicholas Collegiate Church, and Archdeacon of Tuam, will be instituted in the spring.
Prior to his ordination, Gary taught in the Irish Studies Department of the University of Ulster. He comes to Killiney after almost 25 years of active Ministry, having a wide range of experience at parochial, central church and diocesan level. Together with his wife, Caitriona, he has spent more than 20 years in the West of Ireland.
Gary has a keen interest in ecumenism and the development of interfaith contacts and has lectured extensively on faith, spirituality and tolerance. He is also well grounded in the realities of daily life and appreciates the challenges facing communities and families in today’s world.
Described as “one of the most significant Irish liturgical translators in this generation” by Bishop Michael Burrows some years ago, Gary used his skills to translate the 2004 Book of Common Prayer into Irish. He is also a respected traditional musician who has performed on TV and radio and also recorded with the Chieftains and Frankie Gavin. Among his other interests are wildlife, botany, environmental issues and cookery.
In addition to his parochial duties, Gary is currently Chaplain to four hospitals and two universities – the National University of Ireland Galway and the Galway–Mayo Institute of Technology.
Coming from Galway, where his parish includes two churches and is spread over almost 200 miles, he is very much looking forward to being “a true parish Rector” and having a lot more time to, in his own words: “be a pastor and shepherd, get to know and love the people in the parish, to hearten and befriend them, to give focus and identity to the church community, to be a leader through enabling the community to develop new structures necessary for ministry today”. He also hopes to continue to the develop the ministry to younger families in the parish.