Kerry diocese makes history as lay people step up amid growing priest shortage 

As Ireland faces a priest shortage, Kerry’s Diocese is empowering 25  lay ministers to take on key roles in parish life

Pastoral leader Maureen Williams at St Joseph's Church, Fenit: 'The church in Ireland has gone through massive changes in the past few decades.' Picture: Don MacMonagle

As the Catholic Church across the country struggles to balance the loss of ageing priests through death and retirement, with a shortage of younger men devoting their lives to the priesthood, the Diocese of Kerry is putting its fate in the hands of lay people. Last month saw the initiation of 25 pastoral leaders into the church during a ceremony in Killarney.

The Diocese of Kerry is the first to introduce this historic change, allowing lay people to take on roles traditionally carried out by a priest, in a bid to bridge the gap caused by the declining numbers of priests.