Priest numbers continue to fall

THE Catholic Church, in Kerry, is faced with a “great challenge”, as the number of priests continues to decline, according to Bishop Bill Murphy.

He is drawing up plans for neighbouring parishes to pool their resources, forming pastoral areas to be co-ordinated by a priest with the title vicar forane.

Already, the parishes of Kilgarvan, Tuosist, Allihies, Castlegregory and Tarbert are being serviced by an administrator from another parish, or an assistant priest, to cover masses.