Cathal BarryAn upcoming ‘cluster mission’ in Galway is set to give parishioners a taste of what the future holds for the Church in Ireland.
Glenamaddy and Williamson Parish Priest, Fr Paddy Mooney, said the mission will “give people a greater awareness of their need to travel to neighbouring parishes” for Mass in a time with fewer priests.
“We went for the cluster mission because clustering is going to be the way in the future. We know that it will become more predominant in the future with fewer priests,” he told The Irish Catholic.
The parish cluster comprising of Glenamaddy, Dunmore, Kilkerrin-Clonberne and Williamstown will host the Redemptorist mission from October 4-11.
Cluster secretary Breda Kavanagh told this newspaper that people “have to get used to attending different churches in our cluster area”.
“The Church is going to change and people have to get out of their comfort zones and realise it might not always be possible to have Mass in their own church.
“With the reality of the shortage of priests people will have to get used to traveling. I know each parish wants their own identity but unfortunately the situation is that it will have to change,” she said.