Galway begins preparations for life without priests in every parish

The shortage of priests in the county is so serious that parish councils across East Galway are appealing to the Catholic faithful for ideas on how best to maintain church services in the years ahead.

Parishioners are being asked to come up with innovative solutions as to how everyday services such as mass, funerals and administration can be maintained with fewer priests.

The dearth of priests is already causing problems in parishes in the Dioceses of Clonfert, Tuam and Galway and beyond, and the shortage is projected to get worse, due to the ageing profile of parish priests locally and relatively low numbers of new entrants.

Bishop of Clonfert, John Kirby, has confirmed he has recently consulted with parish priests about their dwindling numbers. Arising from that, many priests have continued consultation at local level where some Parish Councils have suggested canvassing ideas from mass-goers on how to best adapt to fewer priests.

Bishop Kirby is head of the Clonfert Diocese of 24 parishes in East Galway and Roscommon that includes three deanery areas of Ballinasloe, Loughrea and Portumna. Mass-goers in many of those parishes will be asked for suggestions on the problem over the next fortnight.

A spokesperson for Bishop Kirby said: “The Bishop has been consulting with priests of the Diocese, who in turn have been consulting with their pastoral councils, with regard the shortage of priests in the Diocese and indeed right across the country.

“The Bishop is not aware of suggestion boxes being put into churches in the Diocese but as part of the consultation process, pastoral councils may have decided to get feedback through suggestion boxes in churches.”

Parish councils are seeking the views of parishioners on the survival of parishes in the absence of a priest and the making of concrete practical suggestions in writing on the celebration of mass, the sacraments, funerals, liturgical services, administration of the parish, care of the sick and any other area of concern.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.