“Tá todhchaí lenár bparóistí, there is a future for our parishes. But that future will depend in no small measure on the people gathered in this room today.”- Bishop Michael

Céad míle fáilte romhaibh go léir. Good morning and welcome to this our second Le Chéile Gathering for Parish Pastoral Council Members in the Dioceses of Clonfert, Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora. Tá áthas mór orm sibh a fheiceáil anseo inniu. Our dioceses stretch from the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare to the eskers on the outskirts of Athlone in County Roscommon. From just across the Shannon in Lusmagh in County Offaly to Shrule in County Mayo. Their heart lies in much of County Galway, in Galway City, agus siar go Ros Muc agus Leitir Móir. We have a combined population of about 200,000 people, with approximately 150,000 Catholics living in our 64 parishes. Ó Aillte an Mhothair go bruach na Sionainne, from the Cliffs of Moher to the banks of the Shannon, is pobal creidimh amháin sinn, we are one community of faith.

To give us a sense of the extent of our gathering today, let me start way out west in County Clare and welcome representatives from the newly formed Parish Pastoral Council of Ennistymon, which I visited during the week. If you’d like to give me a wave, that might be good. We have representatives from the parishes of Liscannor, Lisdoonvarna and Kilfenora.

Ballyvaughan and Fanore, Carron and New Quay, Kinvara and Ballinderreen.

Moving a little inland, are there people here from Gort, Beagh, Peterswell, Ardrahan, Kilcreest and Kilbeacanty here?

What about the Cathedral Parish of Loughrea, Kilnadeema, Clostooken and Kilconieron, Cappataggle and Kilrickle, Leitrim and Ballydugan, Kiltullagh, Kilimordaly and Clooncagh, New Inn and Bullaun and Mullagh and Killoran.

Going a little south: Ballinakill and Derrybrien, Woodford, Portumna, Abbey-Duniry, Tynagh and Killeen, Killimor, Eyrecourt, Clonfert, Meelick, Fahy, Quansboro and Lusmagh.

Further east still: Clontuskert, Lawrencetown and Kiltormer, Aughrim and Kilconnell, Ballinasloe and Creagh, Ballymacward and Gurteen, Fohenagh and Killure and, not far from my own home, Taughmaconnell.

Moving nearer the city: Craughwell, Clarinbridge and Oranmore.

East of the city: Good Shepherd Parish, Renmore, Mervue, Ballybane and Castlegar.

Right in the heart of the city: Galway Cathedral Parish, St Patrick’s, The Claddagh, St Augustine’s and St Joseph’s.

Have we people here from Ballinfoyle, Claregalway, Glencorrib and Shrule?

We have representatives from the West Galway City parishes of Knocknacarra and Sacred Heart.

Out by the sea: Salthill, Bearna, and the gateway to Connemara, Moycullen, Killannin and Oughterard.

And finally, fáilte chroíúil do mhuintir an Spidéil agus na Forbacha, Ros Muc agus Chamais, agus Leitir Móir. What a rich and varied tapestry our parishes make up. Is iontach an éagsúlacht atá le fáil inár bparóistí, the richness and diversity of our parishes is truly remarkable. Tá fáilte mhór romhaibh go léir, a very warm welcome to each and every one of you.

I recognise the difficulties involved in giving up a day to this task. Thank you for making the effort to be here. Thank you for your participation. Most of all, thank you for your ongoing commitment and contribution to the life of your local faith community. Your willingness to serve as a member of your Parish Pastoral Council is deeply edifying. Tá bhur seirbhís agus bhur ndílseacht fíorluachmhar, your service and faithfulness are of immense value. We live in an age where there is much talk about a crisis of vocations to the priesthood. Yet I believe we are also experiencing a crisis in vocations to lay ministry and lay service within our local communities. Volunteers are few and far between. There are not many waiting in the wings to fill yours and many other positions when it comes to parish life.

Is obair chiúin í go minic, it is often quiet work, ach is obair ríthábhachtach í, yet it is vitally important work. I thank God for the continued commitment and ministry of our priests in challenging circumstances. I equally admire your generosity and willingness to serve, which at its heart is, like priesthood itself, a response to God’s call. Tá sibh ag tabhairt sampla den dea-thoil agus den tseirbhís Chríostaí a theastaíonn inár saol inniu, you are giving an example of the goodwill and Christian service that our world needs today. I pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to inspire you in the task at hand. I pray that God will raise up new people to assist you and to carry on your work when your own term of service is complete.

I am absolutely convinced that the future vitality of a parish will depend largely on the faith, commitment, vision and effectiveness of its Parish Pastoral Council. Twenty years from now we may have fewer than ten local priests serving our sixty-four parishes. If our parishes are to remain centres of faith, local people of faith will need to stand with their parish. They will also need to cooperate ever more closely with neighbouring parishes within our faith communities. They will need to work not only to maintain what remains of our local faith communities, but to renew them and help them grow into something vibrant, welcoming and attractive to those who are searching for meaning, purpose and hope. This will not happen by accident. Ní neart go cur le chéile, there is no strength without working together. Le chéile is fearr sinn, together we are stronger. It requires commitment. It requires sacrifice. It requires a generosity of spirit. Above all, it requires faith. Tá todhchaí lenár bparóistí, there is a future for our parishes. But that future will depend in no small measure on the people gathered in this room today.

I was greatly encouraged by Pope Leo’s recent visit to France, a country that for centuries has stood at the forefront of the modern secularising movement. Even France itself, it seems, was surprised by the warmth of the welcome given to the Holy Father and by the renewed interest among so many, especially young people, in the richness of the Christian faith. Speaking to the French bishops in Lourdes, Pope Leo reminded them that the Church carries the weight of history on her shoulders.

He spoke of both the good and the bad. He acknowledged the mistakes of the past, the pain they have caused and the wounds that remain. He urged the Church to confront these failures honestly, to reach out to those who have suffered and to learn from those experiences. At the same time, he warned against discouragement. He reminded the Church of the enduring power of faith to transform lives. He encouraged believers to: “Rise up, then, with hope, and never grow weary of proclaiming the Gospel.” Those words struck a chord in my own heart. Is daoine dóchais sinn, we are a people of hope. Tá dóchas de dhíth orainn go léir, we all need hope. Ná géilligí don díspreagadh, do not surrender to discouragement. Rather, let us rise up with hope and never grow weary of proclaiming the Gospel.

This day next week, on 17th October, the Church in Ireland will hold its first National Synodal Assembly in County Meath. It is the first gathering of its kind in decades. Eleven delegates from our dioceses will be present. Much of the preparation for this assembly has centred on the renewed understanding of synodality.

Put simply, I see synodality as God’s people walking together, supporting one another and discerning together the path ahead. Ag siúl le chéile, walking together. Ag éisteacht lena chéile, listening to one another. Ag foghlaim ó chéile, learning from one another. For me, the greatest expression of grounded synodality at local level is the Parish Pastoral Council. There, priests and people work together for the good of the faith community. There, gifts are shared, burdens are carried together and decisions are informed by prayer and discernment. Our gathering today is also a powerful expression of synodality at diocesan level. We gather as bishop, priests and people. Táimid le chéile mar aon phobal Dé, we are together as one people of God. Equal in baptism. Inspired by the Holy Spirit. Interested in and committed to our local faith communities. Different in our gifts, but united in our mission. Aontaithe sa chreideamh agus sa tseirbhís, united in faith and in service.

My wish is that this gathering will strengthen our sense of diocesan community. I hope that as members of Parish Pastoral Councils you will know that you are not alone. Níl aon duine againn ag obair inár n-aonar, none of us is working alone. I hope that today will give us fresh ideas, renewed energy and practical encouragement. I hope that we will return to our parishes with a deeper sense of purpose and mission. Guím fuinneamh úr oraibh, I pray for new energy for you. Guím misneach oraibh, I pray for courage for you. Agus guím dóchas oraibh, and I pray for hope for you. Together, let us rise up with hope in our parishes, in our faith community areas and across our dioceses.

Thank you once again. Thank you to all who organised this gathering. Thank you to all who travelled to be here. Thank you for your faith. Thank you for your generosity. Thank you for your service. Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir. Go neartaí Dia sibh bhur gcuid oibre sna paróistí, may God strengthen you in your work in your parishes. Go líonadh sé sibh lena ghrásta, may he fill you with his grace. Agus go mbeannaí sé ár bparóistí uile, and may he bless all our parishes. I hope you have an enriching and fruitful day. Guím rath Dé ar ár gcuid oibre inniu. Thank you again and have a nice day!