Losing clergy adds to rural decline – bishop

Losing clergy adds to rural decline – bishop

The Bishop of Raphoe has compared a rural parish losing a priest to losing essential services such as a post office or a Garda station.

Bishop Philip Boyce celebrated his 50th anniversary of joining the priesthood at a Mass in St Eunan’s Cathedral in Letterkenny at the weekend. Speaking to the Donegal Democrat ahead of the celebration, he said the fall-off in vocations has not impacted very severely on his diocese yet, with each parish having “at least one priest”.

However, he acknowledged the impact of the loss of a priest on a community saying people “need the presence of the priest and they do appreciate it”. “It’s just like taking the post office or the Garda station away, it affects the people of the parish,” he said.

Bishop Boyce tendered his resignation last year when he turned 75, as required, but awaits the Vatican appointment of his successor.