The Diocese of Cork and Ross is the latest Irish diocese to suffer “a dramatic decline” in parish funds as a result of church closures during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Bishop Fintan Gavin discussed the situation at a recent meeting of parish finance committees and clergy. At the meeting it emerged that the average parish income in 2020 was just 46.6 percent of the donations received in 2019.
Some parishes experienced a drop of up to 60 percent in donations while most parishes were down at least 30 per cent.
The 68 parishes in Cork and Ross also reported that their expenses were largely unchanged for 2020 when compared with 2019. This was due to ongoing costs including building maintenance, energy and insurance which had to be paid even when congregations were absent due to churches being closed to public worship.
Parishes in the diocese have distributed explanatory literature to households outlining the financial situation and a form, which households can use to set up a standing order for their parish, has been included.
Following a surge in Covid number, churches were closed to public worship from 26 December 2020 and only reopened on 10 May with restricted congregations. They were also closed for most of 2020.
However, despite the lockdowns, the meeting heard that many people continued to be generous in supporting their parishes, even when many household incomes were affected by the pandemic.
Separately, Bishop Gavin has written to the parishioners of Clogheen and Kerry Pike Parish in Cork and Ross informing them that their parish is to become one of a new family of parishes in the north-side of Cork city.
In his letter, Bishop Gavin explained that the diocese does not have enough priests to be able to replace each retiring priest.
“This presents the parishes of this area with a challenge that will have to be faced in every area of the diocese in the coming years,” he said.
There are already a number of examples of clergy sharing responsibility for ministry in more than one parish in the diocese. Up to now this has usually involved two parishes.
This is the first time a larger group of parishes is being asked to come together to share ministry and resources as well as planning together. Priests will be ministering across four parishes.
Bishop Gavin said he hoped that by working together as a family of parishes, sharing resources and supporting one another, they could “serve as a model and inspiration for other parishes in the diocese in the years to come”.
Loading ...
