Parishes must move beyond outdated ways that no longer work – Archbishop Farrell

The Archbishop of Dublin has announced major plans for every parish in the sprawling archdiocese to meet to see how they should best respond to a changed Ireland, insisting this must involve all parishioners.

In a pastoral letter delivered this evening (Wednesday), Dr Dermot Farrell reflected on the synodal process that has been taking place in parishes.

“Over recent weeks, the people and priests of our parishes have been journeying on the Synodal Pathway.

“We have been discerning how the Spirit is guiding us on our way through life. We have listened carefully to each other and are coming to know the strength that comes from gathering as sisters and brothers in Christ,” he said.

Dr Farrell insisted that: “It is time now for the whole diocesan family to travel further, by addressing the specific challenges we face as a diocese”.

Dr Farrell said that the Building Hope Task Force which he appointed proposed a strategy for parishes to be renewed “for the mission which Christ has entrusted to us all”.

“Our primary purpose is to accompany people today towards an encounter with the Lord Jesus. This undoubtedly requires new ways of looking and thinking; it requires a shift in mindset; and will need responsible stewardship. It will not happen without prayer and dialogue. We will need to discern and make decisions, and make decisions together,” the archbishop said of the 199 parishes serving more than 1.5million people – 70% of whom describe themselves as Catholics.

He said that he wanted to invite each parish “to begin to reflect on how best to respond to the pastoral situation in which we find ourselves.

“It is very clear that the future will not look like the past. Our world has changed: we cannot return to the past. God is bringing forth something new…Our challenge – and it is ours – rather than simply reacting to events, is to shape the future in the light of the Gospel,” he said.

Dr Farrell called for parishioners to be “courageous in moving beyond ways that no longer work in the Ireland of today. We need each other on this road: that means all the baptised, working closely together, with their gifts and talents, sharing their resources and wisdom, in the service of our parishes, and the one mission entrusted to us all by Christ.

“I ask parish teams, parish pastoral councils and parish finance committees to lead their parish in a discussion of the gifts and talents available to them, the education and formation they need, and the parish partnerships that make most sense in their locality.

“Resources to support this initial ‘Building Hope’ conversation over Easter and Pentecost will be made available shortly.

“While the work we are now beginning will require commitment over the coming year and more, it also gives us a unique opportunity to witness to and renew our own faith and that of our community,” De Farrell insisted.