TOGETHER TOWARDS TOMORROW-A DIOCESAN JOURNEY

This was the theme of our gathering with Bishop Michael in the Armada Hotel on Tuesday and Wednesday last. The gathering also included clergy from

Clonfert diocese, and lay staff from both diocesan offices. It was facilitated by Fr. Eamon Fitzgibbon and Dr. Jessie Rogers.

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On the first day, we were presented with 9 key principles of the process of parish restructuring and renewal,

which had been distilled from our conversations at last year’s meeting, and from the bishop’s meetings with

laity across the diocese, including the meeting in the Ritz last May. I will provide you with a finalised copy of

these later. We were invited to amend or add to them. While we were in broad agreement with them, some

felt they were a bit idealistic and aspirational. I felt that “reaching out” to those on the edge was a bit weak;

rather, that we must take on our baptismal mission to evangelise, to bring people to discipleship, to a life-

giving friendship with Jesus which will lead to conversion and change in some areas of our lives for sure. I also

felt that the essential role of prayer, especially Catholic essentials like Adoration and Our Lady’s Rosary should

be stressed, and that ministry to our young people should be prioritised, and that Parish Pastoral Councils and

Parish Finance Committees should be referred-to.

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It was said that in parishes comprising numerous churches, major liturgies such as the Easter Vigil should only be celebrated in one church, to create “vibrant, creative

faith-communities.” Addressing the reluctance of people to travel to each-other’s churches, Bishop Michael said that we need a change of mindset. We were given a sobering, detailed breakdown of the number of churches, priests, Mass-times, weddings, funerals, christenings, First Communions, and Confirmations and

Mass-attendance numbers, especially of those aged under 30, through the diocese. It was said that we will not be selling vacant parochial houses but renting them and using the income to train and resource lay ministers.

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Day 2:

Jessie Rogers, who teaches Sacred Scripture in Maynooth, gave us a helpful insight from the famous

text from Isaiah 43, where the Lord says “behold, I am doing something new, can you not see it?” This

promise was made when familiar structures had collapsed, and the people of Israel had been carried into exile

in Babylon. They felt despairing and lost. They are asked to remember past glories, but not nostalgically,

through rose-tinted glasses. They are asked to remember with gratitude, but then to move on and forget the

past, but to leave just enough room for their imagination to see the presence of God and the new things God

wants to do, but for which He needs their cooperation, their co-creativity.

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We were seated in Deanery groups. Due to illness, poor Kilfenora deanery was the least well-represented, with just Frs. Willie, Des, Richard, and

yours truly. Fr. Willie provided much-needed laughter with his colourful recounting of past experiences in the Diocese! We were asked to consider a new model of ministry, inspired by Pope Francis’ synodal way: that of a group of priests sharing ministerial responsibility in a deanery/area in partnership and collaboration with lay

ministers. Canon law allows for the priests to resign as PP’s and instead be reappointed as Co-PP’s for a whole area, with one of them known as a Moderator. It was felt that this would just add another layer of bureaucracy. It could also involve sharing financial resources. We were asked to come up with some practical

suggestions which would address felt needs. We felt that a considerable reduction of clergy numbers in our deanery was imminent, and so our suggestions were: priests and people meet and streamline the Mass times in our deanery so that we can cover each-other where necessary, appoint an administrator/secretary/maintenance-person for the deanery.

In his concluding remarks, Bishop Michael told us that the lay Ministry of Catechist is coming in soon

nationwide, with training provided. He said that the next step is the presentation of the 9 key principles of

parish restructuring and renewal to yourselves; as he said himself “listening to the voices of parishioners,”

beginning with meeting the Parish Pastoral Councils. He said that the choice facing us in the face of the

change that is coming whether we like it or not is either to say: “I can’t do anything, the present system will

see me out,” or to use our God-given reason to shape the future of the faith in our place. After reflection on

the content of this meeting, Bishop Michael wants to meet Parish Pastoral Councils about the 9 principles of

parish restructuring and renewal. He added that there are new Parish Pastoral Guidelines coming out soon,

which have already been sent out in draft form. Quoting Pope Francis again, he said we need to regain a sense

of mission, to become “missionary disciples.” We need a pastoral conversion, not just maintaining the status

quo but to also gain new believers. There’s no point, he said, in having lovely church buildings if there’s

nobody in them. God is in all this, he said, because we are walking in the light of the Holy Spirit. The God Who

guided us in the past is calling us into a bright future.

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On the way home to the parish, I got struck behind a truck from Rineen to Kilshanny, and it was no harm,

because there was so much running around in my head. It had been an intense and exhausting two days.

While I felt reaffirmed in my calling as a priest of our diocese and honoured and grateful to be of service to

yourselves, and had a sense of excitement at the Lord wanting to do something new, I also felt somewhat

ambivalent, because I feel that we in our parish are still on the journey of establishing ourselves as a parish

family of four church areas. However, as I often tell the children in school, watch out for the Unholy Trinity:

me, myself, and I. The Lord is reminding me and us in all this not to become insular, that we are part of

something bigger: our diocese and indeed, our universal Catholic Church, and that we need each-other and

depend on each-other, and indeed, on our beautiful earth, which Pope Francis terms “our common home.”

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This might be a long-winded way of saying that parish boundaries and the churches they contain might need

to be looked at again, the light of present needs which have evolved. Also, I was challenged by Bishop

Michael’s statement that there’s no point in having lovely church buildings if there’s nobody in them. This

uncomfortable but essential question made me wonder about where and how and with whom we should

invest our efforts. I would love to hear your perspective on all this.

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MICHO RUSSELL FESTIVAL: U 18 and U 12 sean nos competition in the attic, Hotel Doolin in memory of

Gussie and Brian Mc Mahon, Thursday 22 nd at 7.30pm. Donations at the door for Pieta House and Irish Heart

Foundation.

IRISH RED CROSS will be collecting at all Masses this weekend.

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PREP SESSION FOR FIRST HOLY COMMUNION AND CONFIRMATION: Monday March 4 th , at 7pm in

Lisdoonvarna church, conducted by Patricia Friel, for children and parents/guardians.

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PARISH WEBSITE: our new parish website, www.lisdoonvarnaparish.ie has been live since Christmas, and

contains all parish information, featuring the weekly newsletter, a secure link for donations, a link to a daily

blessing, and my weekly homilies. Any web designer out there would be most welcome to assist us. This might

be a nice project for secondary school students. All suggestions to Kate at katemcgavinwalsh@yahoo.com

Sincere thanks to Kate, Louise, and all involved.

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Faith & Light Group celebrates 25 years this year, February is Faith and Light awareness month. Please take an

information sheet with upcoming events. New members welcome, contact details on sheet.

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Naomh Bhreandain Residents meeting in the Ritz at 7:30pm Monday 26 th February. Lisdoonvarna Failte are

offering two fun classes weekly from now until April: Tuesday 7:15pm core and conditioning class/ Friday

1:30pm Dance Fitness €2 per class. Suitable for all levels.

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Together Towards Tomorrow: Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora : Parish Restructuring and Renewal

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– Update

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In the past week, Bishop Michael and priests of the Diocese of Galway,

Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora, together with a number of delegates from the Diocese

of Clonfert along with lay-staff from both Diocesan Offices, met in Co. Clare to

discuss and decide on the next steps in our ongoing process of parish renewal and

restructuring in the Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora.

The gathering explored and acknowledged the challenges facing faith communities

across the Diocese. Parishes now stand at a crossroads, where old structures and

old ways of doing things are often no longer viable. A new vision is required for

which new steps urgently need to be taken. Those present expressed energy and

openness for this very significant task. Conversations will need to be had with

parishioners on how new groupings of parishes might be created and maintained

to enable faith communities across the diocese to actively work together, to share

resources and to cooperate closely at all levels. A group of parishes can do more

together than they could do on their own.

New Norms for Parish Pastoral Councils and Parish Finance Committees were published

and an invitation is soon to be issued to each parish to reconstitute these important

bodies. A programme of formation for participants in these Parish Pastoral

Councils and Parish Finance Committees will be offered. Bishop Michael plans to

meet members in their respective parish groupings in the coming months to begin

the necessary conversation.

In his closing remarks to the gathering, Bishop Michael said: “I am convinced that

the God who guided us in the past is now prompting us and provoking us. He is

“doing something new” – inviting us to step into a bright and hope-filled future. I

compliment those present for your input here these last days. I would like to thank

all those who made it possible.”

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22 nd February 2024

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