The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Churches to fall silent on Sundays
KNOCKNAGOSHEL BECOMES SIXTH PARISH IN DIOCESE TO LOSE PRIEST
BISHOP of Kerry Ray Browne has warned that it will soon be no longer possible to celebrate Masses at the weekend in every church in the Diocese of Kerry.
The day is ‘not far off ’ when some churches will fall silent on Sundays as the Church finds itself under greater pressure than ever to maintain its services in the face of dwindling numbers of clergy.
The Bishop also warned no priest will be in a position to serve full time in one parish in a few years.
THE shortage of priests is placing such pressure on the Diocese of Kerry that within a few short years it will be no longer possible to celebrate weekend Masses in every church or provide a priest full-time for every single parish.
This year’s changes of clergy in the Catholic Diocese of Kerry see yet another parish, Knocknagoshel, losing its resident priest – the sixth parish of the diocese to fall victim to dwindling vocations.
In his statement announcing the changes, Bishop Browne described the current era as a ‘great challenge’ for managing the work of the Church in the diocese; calling on the faithful to continue praying for more vocations.
The pastoral area system which sees priests of a number of neighbouring parishes covering ministry in parishes without a resident parish priest is becoming ever more important for the running of the Church’s duties in the county and the parts of Co Cork within the Kerry diocese.
Knocknagoshel loses its resident priest as parish priest there, Fr Eoin Mangan, retires after a lifetime’s ministry. It’s the sixth parish alongside Duagh, Tarbert, Ballyheigue, Allihies and Valentia to find itself without a resident priest.
“This summer sees the situation of a sixth parish, Knocknagoshel, becoming a parish without a resident priest. Within the parish and pastoral area work is in progress to plan for this situation. As I said before it means that in that pastoral area no priest is fulltime in their own parish,” Bishop Browne stated.
No priest will be in a position to work full-time in their own parish within a few years, he warned: “In a short few years this will be the situation in all twelve pastoral areas.”
Before long it will no longer be possible to celebrate Mass at the weekends in every church, he added: “Soon it will not be possible to have a weekend Mass in every church in the diocese. That day is not far off.” Principles have already been set out to ensure that when this happens services will continue in every church, however.
Bishop Browne also remembered two of the diocese’s clergy to have passed away during the year - Fr John Lucid who had been PP of Kilcummin and Fr Pat Moore who had been PP of Duagh until he became seriously ill in recent years. “They are greatly missed by their fellow priests, their many friends and by the people of Kilcummin, Duagh and Moyvane parishes. We are inspired by their lives.” Bishop Browne said the laity will come to play an even more important role in the Church.