Do something, get moving, be confident, risk new things and stick with it!
Clergy and representatives of diocesan staff from the Diocese of Confert and from the Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora gathered this week for their annual two-day conference in Co. Clare.
The conference took place against the backdrop of planning for the future of parishes and of the dioceses. It was recognised that our current circumstances demand radical new approaches to both the configuration of parishes, the relationship between the Diocese of Clonfert and the Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora and the model of ministry for priests and laity.
Standalone parishes are becoming a thing of the past. Groups of parishes must now work much more closely with one another, to provide meaningful faith celebrations, religious education and pastoral care. This will inevitably involve teams of priests, together with lay-people, working across several parishes.
The gathering committed to working out a plan for consultation as to how this can be best achieved on the ground. In the process, due thought must be given to the declining numbers of clergy and to what people can reasonably expect of individual priests.
The need to maintain a strong local sense of community amid such change was also considered and the future will invariably involve even closer cooperation between the Diocese of Clonfert and the Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora.
At the gathering, Bishop Michael thanked priests and parishioners for their untiring ministry and emphasised the intrinsic role the laity has to play in this restructuring and renewal process. He went on to outline the need for formation and training for priests and people in order to prepare fully for this new reality and he expressed his hope that the future will bring with it new grace and fresh growth for our faith communities.
On the second day, the Conference heard from His Excellency, Archbishop, Luis Mariano Montemayor, the Papal Nuncio to Ireland. Archbishop Montemayor echoed this hope for greater cooperation between parishes and between dioceses. In his presentation, he outlined the desire of both Pope Francis and now Pope Leo to create vibrant, life-giving, faith-filled and viable dioceses across the island of Ireland.
This work has already involved the creation of new relationships between neighbouring dioceses across Ireland in recent years. The Nuncio particularly encouraged the Diocese of Clonfert and the Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora to continue their very close co-operation, which began in earnest when the dioceses were united in one Bishop in 2022, as they now journey towards a definitive union.
Archbishop Montemayor expressed the desire of the Holy Father, that a better structured Irish Church will have the grace, passion, resources, energy and joy to continue the task of teaching, through word and example, and living the liberating Gospel message of Jesus Christ.
Participants left the conference with a renewed commitment to planning for the future of both parishes and dioceses, knowing that restructuring will always be directed towards renewal and that creating new arrangements and new ways of doing things will, with the grace and guidance of God, better support, nourish and enrich the faith of parishioners and strengthen and grow local faith communities.
Cuirimid an slí athnuachana seo i lámha Dé agus iarraimid ar an Spiorad Naomh sinn a threorú agus sinn ag siúl ar aghaidh le chéile mar pharóistí agus mar dheoise. Go raibh Críost inár measc i gcónaí, go dtarraingí sé níos gaire dá chéile sinn, agus go mbeannaí sé gach éinne a thugann seirbhís dá phobal, ionas go neartófar ár gcreideamh, go bhfásfaidh ár ndóchas, agus go mairfimid i ngrá.
We place this path of renewal in the hands of God and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us as our parishes and dioceses walk forward together. May Christ remain among us, draw us closer in unity and bless all who serve His people, so that our communities may deepen in faith, grow in hope and live in love.