Archbishop proposes salaried lay workers

THE Archbishop of Dublin is seeking full-time lay workers who would be paid for their duties to help tackle the problems arising from a shortage of priests.

Yesterday the Most Reverend Diarmuid Martin unveiled ambitious proposals to move the archdiocese forward following the turbulent times of recent years.

By the beginning of Lent next year, he wants every Dublin parish to have pastoral and finance committees.

The former, consisting of both priests and lay workers, would coordinate parish services, focusing especially on spreading the faith to the young, supporting marriage and family life, and caring for the marginalised.

The latter would be responsible for parish finances.

He envisages a greater role for lay workers, both men and women, some of whom would be full-time and properly paid.

The incoming Council of Priests, which will be elected in the coming weeks, will be asked to draw up common guidelines for the appointment of the full-time lay workers, who would require “specific spiritual” and “in-service” training.

Archbishop Martin acknowledged that the falling number of priests presented a challenge for the diocese. Twelve priests retired this year and more are expected next year. Of the 700 or so priests in Dublin’s 200 dioceses, most are middle-aged or older.

“It is not just a question of managing more effectively the distribution of priests,” he said.

“It is a question of ensuring that parish communities work together, seeing what can be best done on a broader level, responding to new challenges, and sharing resources and services.”

But he stressed there would be greater support for the existing priests. Many, including the archbishop’s predecessor, Cardinal Desmond Connell, were deeply traumatised by the sex-abuse scandal which engulfed the diocese in recent years.

“We have to support each other and build relationships of respect, solidarity and charity. This will be even more important as numbers go down and more and more priests will minister alone and the risk of loneliness grows,” Archbishop Martin said.

“I repeat that I will meet as soon as I can with any priest who wishes to see me. You can be sure that any letter addressed to me marked ‘confidential’ will be opened by me alone.”

The archbishop, who took up office in April, intends to appoint an Episcopal Vicar for Priests, who would listen to their concerns and bring them to him.

“I have learned over these months that there is a good deal of hurt among the priests of the diocese, for various reasons,” he said.

“There is frustration and a certain fatigue around the very concept of ministry. With God’s help, we can overcome that together.”