Father Paul Devitt has been appointed the parish priest of Orange by Catholic Diocese of Bathurst Bishop Michael McKenna, who was ordained and installed a year ago.

He will take up the new appointment in February next year as Bathurst parish priest for the past 13 years, Father James Cutcliffe, settles into Dubbo.

Father Cutcliffe has previously lived and worked as a priest in Dubbo.

Catholic communities in the diocese are coming to terms with a reshuffle of priests, many who hold a special place in the hearts of the faithful in Dubbo.

Other priests shifting residence include Carl Mackander, Greg Kennedy, Laurie Beath and Tony Hennessy.

From February 2011 Father Mackander will take on the duties of parish priest for Dunedoo-Coolah while Father Kennedy will do the same at Coonabarabran from November this year.

In November 2010 Father Beath will become the parish priest of Cowra, a month after Father Hennessy officially makes Wellington home.

Father Brien Murphy, who retired to Orange this year after attending to the pastoral needs of Dubbo people, will care for the parish of Dunedoo-Coolah from September this year to February 2011.

The congregations of Dubbo’s St Brigid’s Church heard at the weekend of the scheduled departure of Father Devitt who was out of town and unable to be reached yesterday.

Congregation members yesterday described him as a “down-to-earth larrikin” who was “completely in touch with the people”.

Father Devitt also won kudos from parishioners for “efficient and astute management” of the Dubbo parish.

Since the priest’s return to Dubbo for another stint at St Brigid’s, the community has rediscovered his transparent and open approach.

Requests from the Daily Liberal for comment on wide-ranging issues, from The Da Vinci Code through to allegations of sexual assaults at St Stanislaus College in Bathurst 30 years ago, were never refused.

Father Cutcliffe told his parishioners at the weekend that “all parish priests have accepted the changes”.

“It is a new phase in the diocese,” he said.