The Right Rev. Dr Deon K. Johnson, Bishop of Missouri arrived in the Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross last Wednesday to spend part of his sabbatical in Schull, County Cork where, as guests of the Diocese, he will continue to write his book. On Thursday, 10th July 2025, Bishop Johnson was welcomed by members of the Diocese, clergy and laity, for lunch at Garryduff Sports Centre, and he later gave a talk about his work in the Diocese of Missouri.

Bishop and Mrs Colton met the Bishop at Lambeth 2022 where, as guests of the Archbishop of Canterbury at lunch at Lambeth Palace, they found they were seated together. They kept in touch and met up in St Louis, Missouri later that year.

Bishop Colton said:

Bishop Deon had so many insights and practical experience of parish renewal and growth, particularly in the area of children and family ministry which I was also encouraging Cork, Cloyne and Ross to focus on, that I said to him ‘you must come over and talk to us about these things.’ I am thrilled he did come and spoke to us in such an inspirational and challenging way.

Originally from a small village on the Caribbean Island of Barbados, Deon Kevin Johnson was consecrated as the 11th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri on June 13, 2020, at Christ Church Cathedral in St. Louis. The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri is an inclusive community of faith, made up of nearly 10,000 people in 41+ churches and missions in eastern and central Missouri, a Diocese similar in population size to Cork, Cloyne and Ross.

On Sunday, 13th July 2025, Bishop Deon will preach at Compline at St Brendan the Navigator, Crookhaven.