Mayo parishes to double up due to priest shortage

Mayo parishes to double up due to priest shortage

Anton McNulty

Retiring Parish Priests will continue to provide sacramental and pastoral care in their parish despite some parishes having to double up because of the lack of replacements.
Three parishes in Mayo will double up with neighbouring parishes following the latest appointments in the Tuam Diocese, which were announced by Archbishop Michael Neary.
Three parish priests – Very Rev Peter Canon Waldron (Keelogues), Very Rev John Canon Fallon (Kilmaine) and Very Rev Austin Canon Fergus (Mayo Abbey) – are to resign their parishes. Due to the shortage of priests, they will not be directly replaced.
As a result, the Very Rev John Conroy, the current PP of Aughagower will become the PP of the parishes of Parke and Keelogues, Very Reverend Conal Canon Eustace, the current PP of Ballinrobe will become PP of the parishes of Ballinrobe and Kilmaine, and Very Rev Denis Carney, the current PP of Balla will become PP of the parishes of Balla and Mayo Abbey. The changes are to take effect from July 17, 2015.
Rev Fintan Monahan, Diocese Secretary, told The Mayo News that resigning PPs will continue to provide sacramental and pastoral care but will no longer have the administrative responsibilities.
“The [resigning] priests are over 75 years of age and can carry on providing pastoral care without the burden of carrying out the administrative duties of being a parish priest. It is extra work alright [for the new parish priest] but it is the way we have to go. It won’t result in the loss of any Masses,” he said.
There are 80 priests in 55 parishes in the Tuam Diocese, and Rev Monahan explained that the doubling up of parishes will continue as needed.
There are currently five clerical students in the Tuam Diocese, a figure he described as a ‘good number’ compared to one a few years ago.
The other appointments announced by the Archbishop include the Very Rev Jarlath Heraty, PP of Roundstone, becoming PP of Killererin; Very Rev Thomas (Tod) Nolan, PP of Killererin, Barnaderg, becoming PP of Newport; Reverend Patrick Farragher, Resource Person for Parish Pastoral Councils throughout the Archdiocese to become Administrator of the Cathedral parish Tuam; Very Reverend Francis Mitchell, Administrator of Tuam to become PP of Roundstone; Very Reverend Declan Carroll, PP of Newport to become PP of Aughagower and Very Rev MicheΡl Mannion to become PP of Clonbur.