Photo: István Kis/Pixabay. Kildare and Leighlin pastoral letter on the new reality of priesthood in Irish dioceses
Dear friends, I am writing this Pastoral Letter in response to the new reality that now faces us in Kildare and Leighlin Diocese. The decline in the number of priests, as some are recalled by their own orders or returned to their own dioceses, continues to present significant challenges. I am also very conscious of the age profile of our priests, many of them serving parishes, long beyond the acceptable retirement age in the secular world. While we continue to earnestly pray for vocations to the priesthood, we also must deal with these stark realities.
I acknowledge and appreciate that when a priest is moving on from a parish it can be difficult, both for the priest himself, and for parishioners with whom a relationship has been built. Following the recent announcement of diocesan changes, I want to once again thank all those priests involved in the changes this year for the great contribution they have made to their parishes and to their previous appointments – a contribution that is deeply appreciated by all.
Change
Change is never easy, particularly when it involves those close to us or impacts our own lives in a very real way. This is very acute in the parish setting. Our diocese has 56 parishes and 117 churches who find their home now within 11 Pastoral Areas. This year’s diocesan changes will require adjustments, greater cooperation and a willingness to do things differently at Pastoral Area level.
The shortage of priests inevitably sharpens the focus on parish schedules and workloads. This will necessitate a deeper look at the sacramental activities in each parish, the Mass times, particularly where Mass times clash, optimum locations, the different chaplaincies (schools, hospitals, nursing homes, etc) and how services can be delivered more efficiently by working more closely together.
Supporting each other in these tasks is double edged – priests/deacons need to allow and encourage lay involvement in an even greater way”
With any discussion on the number of Masses, there is also the fear of a reduction in income, so I thank you for your generosity and ask you to continue to find ways to support your parish. All this will have obvious implications for the individual parishes within each Area and I urge all priests and people to engage wholeheartedly in this process in which these difficult decisions are discerned and acted upon.
I am aware that our priests carry an enormous burden of responsibility and are expected to be available 24/7 to cope with all kinds of situations, meet all kinds of challenges and attend so many gatherings and functions beyond their normal sacramental duties – more than that could be too great a challenge. I ask parishioners not to make unreasonable demands or to have unrealistic expectations of their priest.
The pastoral needs of parishes are centred around the sacraments and the Eucharist, and these must be the top priority of every priest.
I have ordained 16 permanent deacons and we have 25 lay pastoral ministry students, who are about to begin Year II of their two-year Diploma. Both are and will be tremendous assets to parishes. Lay involvement, with the support of priests and deacons, is one way in which we can continue to nourish the faith of all and sustain our parishes as vibrant faith-filled Gospel communities.
Lay-led prayer services, funeral and baptism ministries, sacramental preparations and volunteerism around the liturgical life of the church are essential. Supporting each other in these tasks is double edged – priests/deacons need to allow and encourage lay involvement in an even greater way than is happening right now and lay people need to step up into greater roles.
Reflection
I believe we must now pause and step back while thinking about more available and sustainable solutions, praying that the Holy Spirit will help us understand ‘What is God saying to the diocese of Kildare and Leighlin at this time?’
The synodal journey our Church has embarked on in recent years, reminds us that the most important sacrament is baptism – our baptism. It is out of a deeper and richer understanding of what our baptism means that we all begin to find our place in the Church today.
What we are experiencing in Kildare and Leighlin is no different to any other diocese in Ireland. However, we must never forget the Church belongs to Christ whom we serve and, as St Oscar Romero reminded us, “we may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker. We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs. We are prophets of a future not our own”.
I see this as a time that is certainly challenging but is also hope-filled. There will always be changes in life, but there are realities which do not change and that is our faith in God “who can do immeasurably more than we can ever ask or imagine” (Eph.3:20).