Falling clergy numbers forces Diocese of Killaloe to host meetings on the church's future in Clare

DRAMATIC falling numbers of clergy, practice rates and ever-growing challenges are leaving the church praying for an answer for the future during a series of meetings in the diocese of Killaloe.

The diocese has started a process of reflection, prayer, discernment and conversation to enable us to make informed decisions about the future structures of the parishes, pastoral areas and diocese.

The process began with two meetings in January and February, one at each side of the diocese, with two presentations suggesting ways forward.

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While there were differences in approach between the two presentations, there was also many similarities in naming the issues to be addressed but different approaches to the way forward.

During the meetings, the church is asking questions of itself and making presentations such as what can be done to creatively ease the burden of administration and make more space for pastoral activity, evangelisation, mission and community building.

“The hope with these presentations was that it might stimulate thinking right across the diocese so that we can discern a way forward wisely and with as much creativity as possible,” a spokesperson for the diocese said.

“What is clear is that we must respond to the dramatic change that is happening in our church while we still have the energy to do something positive to respond,” they added.

Fifteen pastoral area meetings have been arranged around the diocese to further progress the planning at local level.

Details of the meetings along with videos and transcripts of the inputs are available by clicking here.

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The diocese hopes the outcome of these meetings may have a big impact on the future of the church in the local area.

All are warmly welcome to come along to voice their opinion.

Some of these meetings have taken place, but many are still to come until the end of March.