Laity putting their faith in the future

IN the village that gave its name to the country’s most infamous Catholic diocese, a small middle-aged man stepped into the bar, trying to be inconspicuous.

With his working man’s uniform of anorak and flat cap and unimposing manner, he almost got away with it, but his cover was blown by a cheery greeting from behind the counter. “Howya Father.”

Trying to be discreet, he slipped a bag out from under his arm and passed it to the smiling woman.