On Sunday, 19th November 2023, people from all over the Diocese gathered to say thank you to Billy Skuse for his nine years as Diocesan Secretary of Cork, Cloyne and Ross.

After Billy handed the new Diocesan Secretary the symbols of his office, keys, a minute book and an ancient seal, the Bishop spoke and, on behalf of everyone in the Diocese, Dorothy Verplancke, Lay Honorary Secretary presented Billy with a gift. Anne Skuse was presented with flowers by Helen Arnopp, Lay Diocesan Treasurer.

In his speech of thanks and farewell to Billy, the Bishop, Dr Paul Colton said:

The Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross is a very complex and unique organisation. Not only are there are there all the parishes, chaplaincies and schools, there are the many trusts, charities and institutions that we have pioneered over the centuries and which today work in the areas of poverty, housing, healthcare, education, religious education and care of older people. But you entered into all of this with courage and valiantly. You gave generously of yourself and most especially of your own faith and humanity, I want to thank you for that. I remember at your interview you said, ‘Nice people like to do business with nice people’ and you have been and are the personification of that, your own principle. You have been kind and generous and thoughtful and thoroughly nice to everyone. There have been many challenges in the last nine years, but we chipped away at it all together, and all I can say on behalf of us all is ‘Thank you’.

There was sustained applause for Billy and long after the Service ended people were coming up to Billy personally to wish him a happy retirement.