Shortage of parish priests to see reduction in Masses

THE Catholic diocese of Cork and Ross has announced a reduction in the number and frequence of Masses to be celebrated in churches as a result of the shortage of priests.

In a move heralded last June by Bishop John Buckley, the diocese has responded to the fall in the number of vocations and the reality that there are now too few priests for too many parishes.

In a letter read at Mass at all parishes on Sunday and published online by the diocese yesterday, Bishop Buckley reiterated his plan to divide the diocese into what are known as “pastoral areas” or groupings of parishes.

Each pastoral area faces losing at least one priest within the next couple of years.

In his letter, the bishop said: “An important part of our planning was the revision of Mass schedules. Although there will be fewer Masses in some areas, every effort will be made to ensure that communities will be able to attend Mass locally each weekend.”

However, the likelihood is people who wish to attend Mass at a particular time may have to go to a church other than the one they are used to, said the bishop.

He added: “I appreciate that these changes will involve a sacrifice for some parishioners. My primary concern is to ensure that in the years ahead communities will have the opportunity to gather and celebrate the Mass. Even in the harshest times Irish people treasured the Mass and they risked life itself to show their love for the Mass.”

The new Mass schedules will be introduced on January 1.

Last June, Bishop Buckley addressed a letter to Catholics in the diocese.

He wrote: “In 1998, 154 priests worked in the diocese. Today, the figure stands at 103 and this number will continue to decline in the future.”

The bishop added: “Given the continuing fall in the number of priests, each pastoral area faces the real prospect of losing at least one priest within a couple of years.”

* For a full account of the changes go online to www.corkandross.org/news