Chai Brady
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin The Archbishop of Dublin has hinted that the diocese may change parish boundaries, as they do not always “reflect the current demographic reality of the diocese”.
Speaking at the launch of the book Tomorrow’s Parish, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said that parishes would have to face “stark choices” about their future.
He questioned whether their structure reflected the needs of a society in which there is more “mobility” with many people sending their children to schools outside the parish. Dr Martin said that in some circumstances 80% of children in Catholic schools live outside the parish.
The archbishop also discussed a theme he calls “working together for mission”, which he said has been “badly mistranslated” to the phrase ‘clustering’, and involves parishes working more closely together.
Recently it has been revealed that St Andrews & Edinburgh Archdiocese could lose as many as 40 parishes following a two-year review, but most Churches will stay open.
Consultation
In a letter sent to all parishes Archbishop Leo Cushley said he was drawing his lengthy consultation to a close by proposing the “merger of an important number of our parishes”.
The author of Tomorrow’s Parish, Donal Harrington, told The Irish Catholic that in some parts of the city the parish boundaries “don’t make sense anymore”.
“Another thing that strikes me is places where a motorway or dual carriageway has been built and that effectively cuts the parish in two so people will go somewhere else. There are lots of things like that and it certainly merits consideration…”
His book explores the challenges and opportunities faced by modern parishes faced with aging Church-goers and priests, and a Church that has lost much credibility. This new edition sets out priorities for parishes with emphasis on the role of the family in the World Meeting of Families event this August.