Father Eamon Stack, who was secretary of the Garvaghy Road Residents' Coalition during the recent Drumcree crises in Portadown over the past four years, has been posted to Mexico for one year to continue his training.
Father Stack was cleared at Craigavon Magistrates' Court of charges of obstruction arising from the 1995 Drumcree standoff.
When Orangemen were permitted to march along the Garvaghy Road after their service at Drumcree last month, the massive security operation which was mounted prevented residents from going to Mass, and Father Stack concelebrated an open-air Mass on the Garvaghy Road.
The 36-year-old priest describes the situation in Portadown as symptomatic of a "dysfunctional relationship". Rather than dwelling on that dysfunctional relationship, Father Stack prefers to emphasise the need for everyone to sit down and talk about perspectives.
Father Stack told The Irish Times he was looking forward to going to South America and regarded it as a new challenge. However, he said he would miss the Garvaghy Road and hoped to get back to visit during the coming year. He was unsure whether he would be able to return for the July parades issue next year.