The Church in Ireland is at a “pivotal point” in its history and can no longer “ignore” the reality it finds itself in, a bishop has warned.
Addressing clergy at a planning gathering’ on the future of the Church in the Diocese of Elphin, Bishop Michael Duignan, who is Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh as well as Clonfert, said the current climate for faith and faith communities is “difficult” and there are challenges from within and without.
“Our congregations are fast declining in number and increasing in age. Our clergy are greying. Vocations are scarce,” he admitted. He revealed that at 53 he is the youngest priest in the diocese of Clonfert and the sixth youngest priest in Galway.
“Between the two dioceses we have over ten parishes now without a resident priest. Financial resources are scarce but perhaps even more concerning the people we can rely on and depend on to help are few in number. There often is no one to succeed them.”
Bishop Duignan told Elphin clergy that the dioceses of Clonfert and Galway are in the middle of a similar planning exercise and that the process requires “a profound engagement” from all involved as well as spirit-led discernment.
“Change is difficult – the older you get the harder it is,” he acknowledged but underlined that they could choose to be the victims of change or the agents of change.
He said much was being done today in dioceses and parishes that “we have to ‘free ourselves from’ in order to ‘free ourselves for’ things and activities that better further the life of faith and the life of our faith communities”.
He added, “We have to leave behind much that at a time served us well but no longer serves us now. We need to be brave enough to try new ways and walk new paths. Most of all, I think need to be missionary in our approach, seeking not solely to service the converted but rather to gain new believers – new faith-filled Christians in the pews.”
He acknowledged that this is not easy for people, priests or faith communities.
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