Parishes need ‘advice and encouragement’ from bishops

Parishes need “practical advice” from bishops to help with “complex process” of opening churches, said Fr Aquinas Duffy of Cabinteely parish.

Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Fr Duffy praised the recent framework document published by the Irish bishops, but said that it provided more questions than answers at this point.

“They bishops are doing what they can by sending out the framework document, it is a good help,” said Fr Duffy. “But there are more questions than solutions and answers in it.

“The problem is each parish being left to themselves to come up with solutions and it’s extremely challenging.

“Our own situation in Cabinteely, for example – if we want to return to pre-lockdown schedule, we’d need an enormous amount of volunteers which I’d be surprised if we get.

“The number of masses we do won’t be dependent on the priest, but on the volunteers we need.”

Fr Duffy said that parishes can feel quite isolated as a result of the huge commitments.

“What we’re really looking for are two things: one is practical solutions as to how we can reopen,” said Fr Duffy.

“The second is encouragement. It’s an important thing at the moment, for bishops to support and encourage parishes.”