Mags GarganA delegation representing the ‘Save our Dominican church’ campaign in Drogheda will present a petition of 22,000 signatures to the international headquarters of the Dominican order in Rome next month.
Irish Dominican authorities announced in September that they were planning to withdraw from five communities across Ireland because of falling numbers and the ageing profile of members. This sparked a passionate protest campaign by parishioners in Drogheda, including a hunger strike by sacristan Declan Hanratty, and the Dominican friars in the Drogheda priory have refused to be removed from the town.
Co. Louth senator Mary Moran has written to Fr Bruno Cadoré, Master General of the Dominican Order and Ambassador to the Holy See, Emma Madigan, asking for a meeting. Senator Moran will travel to Rome next month with Drogheda Mayor Kevin Callan, Declan Hanratty and Fr Jim Donleavey and other members of the campaign to make an appeal for an intervention into their case.
Writing in response on behalf of Fr Cadoré, Fr Vivian Boland said: “Naturally the order would not want to withdraw from such a historical location and from a town with so many pastoral and other needs without very good reason.” He suggested that the campaigners speak directly with the Irish provincial. Ms Madigan has not responded to the meeting request as yet.
Fr Gregory Carroll, prior provincial for the order, said in a statement that while he appreciated that the decision to leave parishes was “painful” for the friars and people in those communities, it was “unavoidable” with the falling number of members.
A gospel music concert is being held in the Dominican church in Drogheda on March 8 at 8pm to raise funds for the campaign.