Laity central to new diocesan plan

Laity central to new diocesan plan


Áine Ryan

‘AN EDUCATED and committed laity’ will play an increasingly important role in the Catholic Church as its current structures change. That is according to Mr Sean Staunton, the Chairman of the Diocesan Pastoral Council who, along with Archbishop Michael Nearly, has welcomed the publication of the Archdiocese of Tuam’s new pastoral plan for 2013-2020, Journeying Together in Faith.
“This is an opportunity for every baptised Catholic to play their role in the building up of our Church and in the fostering of faith,” Mr Staunton said at the recent launch of the plan. The document, which encompasses wide-ranging proposals, will be distributed at Masses over next weekend.
Among the proposals is the future possibility of a Permanent Diaconate, which allows for the ordination of married men as deacons. Their ministry would include: preaching at Masses; the celebration of baptisms, the witnessing of marriages and the presiding at funerals. Other proposals include the ongoing clustering of parishes, the employment of lay pastoral workers and the training of parish secretaries”.  
Archbishop Neary noted that these proposals were the result of ‘a broad consultation process’ , which culminated in 62 submissions. Projections show that by 2020 the 55 parishes of the diocese will be served by 50 priests, some 20 less than currently ministering. This means more parishes will no longer have resident priests but rather will still be served as part of a cluster by a team, which will include members of the laity playing key roles.  
The document  also reveals, for example, that ‘over the coming years there may well be just one priest serving the parishes of Keelogues and Parke and that the parishes of Castlebar and Islandeady will be served by just three priests’.
“Such change will be challenging for both the lay faithful and their priests and will require courage and generosity but I am convinced that together and with the grace of the Holy Spirit we can and we will face an ever-changing future with confidence, and that faith will continue to flourish long into the future,” Dr Neary said.