TLK Diocese is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Damian Shorten as Safeguarding Compliance Officer.

“The appointment of Mr Damian Shorten as our TLK Safeguarding compliance officer brings me a measure of pleasure, confidence and relief. Pleasure because we look forward to his company and wisdom as part of the diocesan staff team, and realise him to be someone who knows our context well from his firm roots in the Limerick area. Confidence because he brings with him a track record in work of this type, along with significant experience as a pastor and educator. Relief because our excellent volunteer overseers in the area of safeguarding really need a professional member of the diocesan staff to support them, and to ensure that in every place we meet all today’s rightly extensive requirements. In this vital aspect of the church’s work there should be no chinks in our armour or failures in our duty of care. Damien will be clear in his expectations of us, but also encouraging and creative when it comes to helping parishes deliver the safest possible environment for fruitful ministry with children and vulnerable persons.”

Michael, Tuam Limerick & Killaloe

Damian has provided this short Bio by way of introduction:-
I am married to Amy and we have two children, Arthur (who is 6) and Verity (who is 3). Though living, working, and ministering in the Diocese of Kilmore, Elphin & Ardagh since 2015, my home parish is Rathkeale in the Diocese of Limerick. I trained as a second-level teacher and, after graduation, worked for three years in Sligo Grammar School. Having had extensive involvement in youth & children's ministry since my teenage years (including a period as Chairperson of the United Diocesan Youth Council of Limerick & Killaloe), I was employed as Diocesan Youth & Children's Coordinator for Elphin & Ardagh from 2018 to 2022. I have been (since 2016) and continue to serve in the Riverstown Group of Parishes in Co. Sligo as a Diocesan Reader with day-to-day liturgical and pastoral responsibilities. A long-term enthusiasm of mine is the flourishing of Church of Ireland in the western part of the island. Therefore, I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to serve the Dioceses of Tuam, Limerick & Killaloe (TLK) in a part-time capacity as Safeguarding Compliance Officer.

I know firsthand from this experience the challenges there are in complying with safeguarding policies, along with all the other demands at parish and diocesan level. I hope to help us all to see safeguarding as not just another burden, but more and more as something to be embraced as an essential part of our discipleship and ministry. I look forward to meeting many of you – indeed, to reconnecting with many of you! – and working together with you over the coming years to achieve the highest standards of care and safety for all those God brings in contact with the Church. Please pray for me as I begin this role, as I will pray for all those across TLK."

You can contact Damian at safeguarding@tlk.ie.
This news item first appeared on the diocesan website at https://tlk.ie/new-appointment/
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