Diocese pins hopes on shared Masses to combat dwindling priest numbers
Groupings across the Waterford and Lismore Diocese are making recommendations to a coordinating committee on how parishes should be grouped in future and Masses shared.
Bishop of Waterford and Lismore, Dr William Lee, will then decide which services stay and go.
Sunday morning Mass was dropped last weekend in Ardmore for the first time in 166 years. And more services are set to be rescheduled when the Bishop takes on board the recommendations of coordinating groups in the diocese in the coming months.
There are not enough priests to go around, says diocesan spokesman Fr Larry Power. There are now 88 active priests in 45 parishes across the diocese, a fraction of the figure 10 years ago.
“It’s a new experience for parishes to work together - it’s a difficult situation for most but one we can’t ignore,” he said.
In a letter to parishioners across Waterford, Dr Lee said change was inevitable.
“The lack of vocations will be a big issue for the foreseeable future. As well, there is the rapidly changing age profile of our priests. All of this will mean that parishes will have fewer priests and some parishes, may have no resident priest,” he continues.
He suggests that parishes cooperate and help each other in different ways.
“Grouping of such parishes does not mean their suppression or amalgamation, nor does it mean changing parish boundaries or closing churches. The focus of a grouping of parishes is on drawing strength from cooperation,” Dr Lee continued.
The people of Waterford also need to face a very practical issue regarding the number and times of Masses in parishes, he added.
“Given the number of Masses in each church at present and the small congregations, we need to look urgently at this matter.
“What makes this so urgent is the fact that the number of priests in our diocese is in sharp decline and their average age is increasing.”
Priests are encouraged to focus on the quality rather than quantity of Masses.
The Bishop recommends that each parish should arrange its Masses to offer help to a neighbouring parish whose priest may be ill or on holidays or has to be away for any reason.
He also suggests that a priest should not celebrate more than two Masses on a Sunday. And except in special circumstances, no priest ought to be saying two weekday Masses as his normal commitment.
