Priest shortage sparks major review

Priest shortage sparks major review

11 June 2014

MAJOR decisions about the future of local Catholic churches will be made this autumn as the lack of clergymen hits critical levels.

Sweeping changes are expected as part of a review that is being carried out in response to the dwindling number of local priests.

The review has been launched by the Bishop of Down and Connor Noel Treanor, who has called for “honest conversations” about the future due to the rapidly declining number of clergymen.

Statistics compiled by the church in the first stage of this review were published this week and show there are now only 13 priests across the Downpatrick area, which includes Downpatrick, Bright, Saul and Ballee, Strangford, Dunsford and Ardglass, Crossgar, Killyleagh and Saintfield, and 12 across the Newcastle area, which includes Castlewellan, Kilcoo, Loughinisland, Dundrum and Tyrella, Drumaroad, Kilkeel and Lower Mourne.

According to registers taken in churches a few weeks ago, almost 13,000 worshippers attend 33 Sunday masses with attendances ranging from 30 to over 650 people, over a third of whom are over 60.

Although recommendations about rationalisation will not be published until the review is compete in the autumn, some changes have already been made to help priests cope with their workload.

St. Brigid’s Church in Downpatrick and Star of the Sea Church in Strangford no longer have any Sunday masses, while Sunday masses have recently been shared across two of the district’s most historic churches.

Saul’s parish priest, Fr. Paul Alexander, this week confirmed he had made the difficult decision to alternate Sunday masses between St. Tassach’s Church, Carlin, and St. Joseph’s Church, Ballycruttle, because of 

the pressure he faced trying to manage duties across three churches in his parish.

He said he spent sleepless 

nights considering the decision, 

which was particularly difficult because of the long and rich history of the churches.

“A lot of thought and prayer went into making this decision and although there will be dissatisfaction with change, the majority of people understand and accept that we may now have to look at a new vision of the church,” he said.

“The pressure on priests and their time is a burning issue with the clergy.

“The decision about sharing masses is not an ideal solution and it will be kept under review.

“But we do need change and people need to be prepared.”