In another change, the first lay principal, Carmel Honan, has been appointed to the school.

Pope Francis’ visit to Ireland will inject new energy into the process of regenerating the Church, which will be beneficial for the faithful but will also prompt those who are disillusioned to look again and see it as the Church of mercy and caring that Pope Francis wants it to be.

The role of lay people will be of the utmost importance going forward in the Church – Bishop Brendan Leahy.

Fr Jim Noonan was an Irish missionary priest with the Kiltegan Fathers and served in Nigeria for 47 years.