By Alan Healy
Deputy Editor

A popular local priest has stunned his parishioners after publicly announcing his departure from the priesthood yesterday.

Father Sean McKenna, parish priest at the Holy Family Parish, Ballymagroarty told mass goers yesterday that he would be departing from the priesthood after having entered into a ‘loving, beautiful and life giving relationship’ with a woman.
Father McKenna, who was ordained in Maynooth in 1985 and also served at the Long Tower and Creggan parishes – addressed parishioners at each mass at the Holy Family chapel yesterday morning.
Before Father Frank Lynch completed the mass, Fr McKenna took to the altar, where he told parishioners that after a period of ‘discernment and reflection’ he had decided to leave the priesthood, adding that Bishop Seamus Hegarty had accepted his decision ‘with regret’.
Fr McKenna explained that the vow of celibacy was ‘integral’ to the priesthood, and that he had now entered into a relationship with a woman and could therefore no longer remain in the priesthood.
He stressed that his decision had ‘not come about through any loss of respect for priesthood’ and extended his gratitude to all the parishioners he has served, adding that it had been a ‘great privilege to share God’s word with them’.
Fr McKenna continued that his time in the Holy Family parish had been ‘greatly uplifting.
Once Fr McKenna had completed the announcement, he was met with rapturous applause and standing ovation from all in attendance.
In concluding the Mass, Fr Lynch said that the news had come as ‘great a shock to me as it has to you’ before paying tribute to his work at the parish.
He also requested that everyone would respect Fr McKenna’s decision at ‘this life changing moment’.