Dwindling priest numbers results in reduced Masses

MASSES in the Kerry diocese are likely to be reduced further as the number of serving priests continues to fall. Also, three younger Kerry priests left the ministry this year.

Monsignor Dan O’Riordan, parish priest of St John’s, Tralee, confirmed yesterday that there’s to be a slight reduction in the number of weekday Masses in Tralee and called for more activity by lay people in parish work.

Upwards of 90 priests are currently working in 52 parishes in the diocese, which also includes parts of north and south-west Cork, but around half of these priests are due for retirement in the next 20 years, by which time they will have served for 50 years.

Fr O’Riordan, who is also Dean of Kerry, said the number of daily Masses in Tralee is to be reduced from 10 to nine on some days.

“This is minimal change and the only change for the moment, but there are more changes on the way,” he said.

There have already been warnings in Kerry about some working priests being under severe pressure to cope with the demands being placed on them.

Kerry has 110 churches, some of which are in remote, sparsely-populated areas and, while Fr O’Riordan said churches would not be closing, there might not be Masses in all churches every weekend.

Three younger men left the priesthood in Kerry this year, the latest being the director of diocesan communications, Rory O’Sullivan, also a well-known media figure and Radio Kerry presenter.

Prior to the departure of these priests, the Bishop of Kerry, Dr Bill Murphy, had launched a vocations initiative to encourage more young men to enter the priesthood.

However, just one person from Kerry has started studying for the priesthood in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, this year.

Fr O’Riordan described the shortage of priests as a challenge for the diocese, but said he was hopeful about the future.

“There are still a few roles being filled by priests that could be taken up by secular people. There’s room for more lay involvement in organising parishes — not having lay people doing the jobs of priests, but serving the community.”

Fr O’Riordan, pointing out that 26 students had started studying for the priesthood in Maynooth, last month, compared to 1,200 in Poland, said a situation could arise where countries such as Poland could be evangelising the West.

Catholic Polish communities in Cork and Kerry have Polish chaplains, for instance.

When asked on Radio Kerry if he felt the question of having married priests, or women priests, should be looked at by the Church, he replied he would have “no difficulty” with either.

The 10 deaneries in Kerry, meanwhile, are looking at what adjustments can be made arising from the dwindling number of priests.