In less than 20 years, there will be fewer than 10 priests covering the 85 churches across the Diocese of Clogher, if the diocese continues as it is, with just one priest to be ordained in the next seven years.

This was Bishop Larry Duffy’s stark message to parishioners this week, as he called for wider community engagement.

It came following a meeting on June 6, where clergy of the Diocese of Clogher, together with a number of lay people, gathered in Monaghan to review the diocese, with a focus on plans for its future; both immediate and over the next 10 to 20 years.

In a letter to parishioners of the diocese this week, Bishop Duffy explained that ahead of the meeting, considerable research was undertaken which made for “very sobering reflection”.

“The truth is that we cannot continue to operate and provide pastoral ministry across our diocese in the same way as we do now or as we did in the past,” he said, continuing: “We have to look at a whole new model.

“The figures given to us indicate that if we continue as we are, in less than 20 years there will be fewer than 10 priests covering the 85 churches across the whole diocese – from Bundoran on the Atlantic to Inniskeen and Killanny near Dundalk.

“At most, there will be just one priest ordained in the next seven years. These facts alone will mean less Masses.

“But the other point that emerged from the June meeting was that we are far too dependent on our priests for not just pastoral care but for administration, property maintenance, planning and governance of parishes.

‘Pressures’

“Also, the impacts of the continuing pressures on the wellbeing of clergy cannot be ignored – in fact, that has to be a priority area for immediate attention,” wrote Bishop Duffy.

He continued: “We need to move from a model that is clergy-dependent and based almost solely on sacramental provision to one that is broader in terms of recognising, utilising and honouring the vocation and varied gifts of all the baptised, and which will, over time, allow for really effective and meaningful co-responsibility in the Church’s mission.

“Our Baptism calls us to serve in new ways. That is our challenge – a challenge we all have to face, with the help of God.

“In all of this we should not allow negativity and doom to prevail,” he urged, encouraging parishioners that “Christ is with us”.

“As people filled with the Holy Spirit, we must all engage positively in the process that is unfolding. In that regard, I wish to speak about what is happening locally, nationally and universally to bring the Church unto a pathway towards a new vision, filled with hope.”

Highlighting how dialogue as a diocese on this matter has been ongoing since before the pandemic in 2020, Bishop Duffy said: “At Pentecost 2020, I wrote to you that this process would continue.

“Then, in October 2021, Pope Francis brought the whole Church into a Synod, inviting people to journey together, to listen to the Holy Spirit and discern how we can proclaim the Gospel effectively in order to bring people into encountering Christ in our time.”

He noted that this October and again in 2024, a Synod – with lay participation – will be convened in Rome to consider this.

‘A process’

“Here in Ireland, we too are embarking on a similar pathway, a process which will enable us to imagine and realise new possibilities for the future of the faith here as well as journeying with those people who carry wounds which were inflicted on them by Church representatives in the past,” he said.

He added: “Very importantly, we are also in a Year of Vocation to the Diocesan Priesthood, where we are inviting men to ‘take a risk for Christ’ and consider the vocation to priestly life.

“We need priests! Without priests we cannot have the Eucharist or the Sacraments of Reconciliation or Anointing.”

In addition, Bishop Duffy noted that the configuration of parish groupings will have to be considered in such a way as to provide effective pastoral outreach that respects new forms of ministry, the care and wellbeing of clergy and local circumstances.

“These challenges will involve letting go of some things that are familiar to us. We will be challenged to develop new ways of learning and celebrating our faith; new ways of gathering in our parishes for prayer in the absence of a priest, new ways of preparing for and celebrating funerals, new ways of assisting in parish administration and so on.

“Some parishes are already doing some of this, and with great vitality.

“Others are already moving towards developing lay-led ministry in a number of areas, including aspects of the celebration of funerals, by asking some parishioners to take on roles in funeral ministry.

“Training, formation and ongoing support will be an absolute necessity for those taking on all of these new ministries and such a programme for funeral ministry in some parishes is commencing this autumn,” he added.