Traditional Christmas Mass times in Limerick parishes may be at an end warns archbishop
THE SHORTAGE of priests could mean the end of some parish’s traditional Christmas Mass times.
It follows the announcement by Archbishop of Cashel & Emly Kieran O’Reilly of new parish pastoral combinations.
The archdiocese has always encompassed Limerick and Tipperary but now parishes from both sides of the county bounds will be combined in new “units”.
The Limerick parishes in the new structure are Kilbehenny & Anglesboro; Ballylanders; Galbally & Lisvernane; Knocklong & Glenbrohane as one combination. Hospital & Herbertstown; Knockainey & Patrickswell; Caherconlish & Inch St. Laurence; Ballybricken & Bohermore have been grouped together.
Murroe & Boher; Newport, Birdhill & Toor; Ballinahinch & Killoscully; Ballina & Boher is another. Kilcommon, Hollyford & Rearcross; Cappamore; Doon; Cappawhite. Pallasgreen & Templebraden; Emly; Lattin & Cullen; Kilteely & Dromkeen. Tipperary; Solohead & Oola; Anacarty & Donohill; Bansha & Kilmoyler. It could be interesting to see how prayers are said ahead of Limerick and Tipp clashes!
The new parish pastoral combinations have been formally set up but the arrangement of Mass times will take place over the coming weeks in each one.
It is planned that all such arrangements would be fully in place by the first Sunday of Lent, February 26. It means that the traditional Mass times in some parishes may be no longer be in place in December 2023.
The changes are all down to a lack of priests.
“Currently, we are blessed with 68 diocesan priests ministering in the diocese including associate priests, they are also assisted by other priests living in the diocese. It is clear that this staffing level will not continue.
“A significant number of priests will be over 75 years of age in the coming years – over the next five years a further 16 priests will reach the age of 75 and, at that time, there will also be a maximum of 35 priests under the age of 75. The current (average) age of priests in the diocese is 67,” said Archbishop O’Reilly in a letter last July.
In the most recent letter read out at all Masses in the archdiocese of Cashel & Emly, the archbishop said the aim of this reorganisation is to ensure the “good pastoral functioning of our parishes”.
“The organisation of these units will involve priests and lay people working together in a spirit of co-responsibility,” said Archbishop O’Reilly, who is endeavouring to works miracles with fewer priests just like Jesus did with loaves and fishes.