Bishop of Kerry Ray Browne has issued a pastoral letter to the Diocese of Kerry inviting people to participate in the consultation and planning process for the diocese over the next six months.
‘Moving Forward In Hope’ seeks to shape the future of pastoral areas, parishes, and local church communities, while following a vision that addresses the ‘faith-world’ of today.
In his letter, Bishop Browne said the life of the 110 local church-communities is a valuable and valued resource for people now and into the future.
“In the light of fewer clergy, we need to explore how each local church-community can thrive with local leadership acting co-responsibly with the priests ministering to the parishes of the pastoral areas,” Bishop Browne said.
“A church can still be the centre point for community life, even if there is no weekend Mass. Think of your local church community in four ways: a social/friendship community; a caring compassionate community; a praying, worshipping and sacramental community; and a community whose mission is to nourish and develop its faith, and hand it on to the next generation,” he added.
The Bishop explained that for more than fifteen years, the dioceses has had a strategy to respond to the reduction in the number of priests. With fifteen parishes currently without a resident priest, these areas are served by the priests and deacons of their pastoral area.
“With many priests set to reach retirement age of 75 in the next three years, the challenge is imminent. Greater involvement of parishioners in all aspects of church life has enabled us to adjust well. There are so many people in all our parishes to whom we owe a debt of gratitude for devoted voluntary service,” Bishop Browne said.He cited the need to review Kerry’s parish and pastoral area structures so that they can serve people more effectively. Central to this would be a more structured engagement of laity. Moreover, a key element of the future will be the ministry of lay pastoral leaders, of whom 26 are presently in formation.
“Our first step in the process is consulting you, the people of the parishes. In February, there will be a gathering in each parish. The invitation is open to all: what do you see as the strengths and weaknesses locally, and what are your thoughts on what might be done?” Bishop Browne said.
“In parallel with this, there will be a consultation for the clergy. Our hope is that parishioners and deacons will take a structured leadership role in their pastoral areas working in a co-responsible way with the priests of the pastoral area as well as priests from abroad. This will allow priests to work across pastoral areas in a more sustainable manner. We will keep people informed as the process progresses,” he added.
Bishop Browne thanked parishioners for their prayers and involvement in contributing to parish life, and to anyone ill or coping with major difficulties. He thanked all the priests, in appointments and retired, for their dedicated and loving ministry.
“Let us thank God for the two priests ordained in the past six years and our two seminarians as we continue to pray for vocations to serve as priests in the diocese. Let us be united and confident as we face the challenges that lie ahead. We have much to be grateful for,” he said.
Bishop Browne concluded: “Please remember in your prayers this consultation and planning process. The life of St Brendan is a wonderful testimony to deep Christian faith, and to trust in God facing the future. Let us entrust our future to the intercession of St Brendan.”