Diocesan report due early January

A report examining the future structure of the Church locally across the Diocese of Kilmore is expected to be finalised and ready for publication early in the New Year. Once complete, it will be published and shared on the Diocesan website.

By 2030, it's projected there will only be 27 priests ministering across the Diocese, which comprises 34 parishes. In early November, Bishop Martin Hayes announced plans to examine ways of managing ministry into the future. Central tenants to the initial part of the review included parishioner engagements, with public meetings held from Kilmainhamwood to Kinlough; the development of lay leaders; and perhaps most significantly, plans to reschedule Masses through the partnering of adjoining parishes.

Currently, there are 64 priests in the diocese, with 44 in active ministry resident in 34 parishes, two abroad and 18 retired. More than half the Diocese's priests are aged over 70 years, and one third older than 75. Adding to the fears for the future, there is currently just one seminarian recently ordained to the Diaconate.

The review follows extensive consultation with the Diocesan Synodality team, the Diocesan Pastoral Council, the Priests of the Diocese and Diocesan staff along with the Director of Pastoral Planning and Faith Development, Martina Gilmartin.

“It is the right and responsibility of lay people to be involved in our parishes. We can no longer rely on a model of parish, which depends solely on the priest in view of the reduced number and ageing profile of priests,” said Bishop Hayes at the time.

The Tipperary native, who took over the role in 2020 following the retirement of Leo O'Reilly, wants to see an enhanced role for lay people in parishes.

Bishop Hayes said due to the “ageing profile” of priests, and “changes” in the behaviour of faith practice generally, the Diocese finds itself in “uncharted waters”.

“Only one thing is for sure: we must act now to sustain our Church for tomorrow.”

A spokesperson for Diocese of Kilmore informed The Anglo-Celt that “feedback” from each of the parish meetings held had been sent to the Diocesan Office. Bishop Hayes and the team have reviewed the reports and begun drawing up an initial document with “preliminary findings”. This document was described to the Celt as a “work in progress” with more feedback to be added. The team hosted online meetings in early December with parish meeting facilitators and note-takers. They were asked to present their “initial findings” and to ascertain if the draft is true to what “they have heard in their individual meetings”.

“This collaborative approach aims to ensure that the document under development faithfully reflects back the collective feedback so far,” said the spokesperson, who added that the aim is to have the “finalised report ready by early January”.

“Once concluded, the final report will be made publicly accessible on the Diocesan website at kilmorediocese.ie”