Due to a lack of priests the Diocese of Clogher is reducing the number of Masses by 15%.
Effective from the first weekend of October, the changes come on foot of a recent pastoral letter by diocesan administrator Msgr Joseph McGuinness which highlighted the fact there are just 58 priests in active ministry in the diocese. Out of that number, 28 are over 65.
They are ministering to communities in 85 churches across 37 parishes.
The changes come after a series of meetings of priests chaired by Msgr McGuinness which concluded there would be a reduction from 113 Masses to 96.
For many parishes Masses will be rotated between two or three churches at weekends. Some churches will only have Mass on designated Sundays of each month.
In a letter from Msgr McGuinness read at all Masses over the weekend he said there is recognition of the importance of each church to its local community so “that Mass continues to be celebrated in all the churches of the diocese and that every church continues to be a living place of worship. There is no question of any church being closed.”