Protestors awaiting consultation on closure from Dominican order
Campaigners battling to keep open St Magdalen’s Church in Drogheda, are still waiting for the Dominican order to begin a consultation process three months after announcing they were withdrawing from the town.
The Dominicans announced in September that they were planning to withdraw from five parishes across Ireland because of falling numbers and the aging profile of members. This sparked a protest campaign in Drogheda that saw over 300 people attended a public meeting, 15,000 petition signatures and a hunger strike by the church sacristan.
Rita Hanratty of the ‘Save our Dominican church’ committee said protestors were disappointed that they had no response from the Dominican council since they were told at a meeting in October that there would be a consultation process.
Appeal
This led the group to appeal to the Master of the Order in Rome, Fr Bruno Cadore. Responding on his behalf, Fr Vivian Boland wrote that the master believed that the Dominicans should work with the local congregation to see “how the church can be kept in use, even without a community of friars resident at St Magdalen’s”.
The Prior Provincial, Fr Gregory Carroll told The Irish Catholic that he was in the process of “setting up working parties” in the areas where the order was considering withdrawing from. “When those preparations are complete, the team for each house will initiate a process of consultation with all stakeholders as to what is the wise way forward when the day comes that no friar is available for that house,” he said.
A vigil Mass will be celebrated in St Magdalen’s Church in Drogheda on Sunday at 6.05pm to thank all the people who have supported the campaign to keep the church open.