It needs to be clearly stated that we do not see the solution to be importing priests from outwith the Diocese, whether that be from Africa, India, Poland or wherever. It is also acknowledged that we are still overly reliant on the generosity of retired priests.  Several communities which consider themselves parishes are actually “chapels of ease” and do not enjoy the same rights as a parish. Among these would be the communities at Stewarton, Moffat, Kirkconnel, Gatehouse and New Abbey.

There are often unrealistic expectations of priests; priests are not merely “Mass machines” and they have many other duties both in the diocesan church and wider afield. It is a rare thing these days that any priest will not have other, often “unseen” or “unknown” duties over and above his parish responsibilities.

We are also failing to take into proper account the age profile of our priests, where over half the priests serving in our Diocese are already beyond what would normally be considered retiring age.

At present there are two parish priests over the age of 75 (the retirement age of a priest) still working in the Diocese. Within the next two years three parish priests will reach the age of 75, a further two parish priests will do so during the following three years. Within ten years that will rise to a further ten priests, reducing the number of priests under the age of 75 to only sixteen. We have to restructure the Diocese in such a way that we can continue to serve the people as the number of priests continues to fall to perhaps as few as fifteen within the next ten years.

This is without considering any health issues, the death of a priest under the age of 75, priests who leave active ministry within the Diocese for other reasons, nor does it consider any ongoing professional development issues for the clergy.

During the weekend 10th/11th August, Fr O’Mahony will invite us to consider our role in the New Evangelisation within the Church.  If our community is to be constantly converted to the Lord, we all have to change.

In the words of Blessed John Henry Newman:

“To be human is to change.  To be perfect is to have changed often.”

Last month the lay people of the Diocese of Galloway were invited to consider the implications of the document “Embracing Change”. (Starting on the right and concluding at the bottom of this newsletter.) The aim was to listen to and learn from their views on the long-standing shortage of priests in their Diocese and generally in Scotland, and to explore the urgent need for discernment and decisions regarding the future. The goal was to establish “how to move forward and evangelise”.  It was not within their brief to solve the problems of the Church, rather to look at the priorities in the Diocese as between clergy and laity.

Many parishes in the Diocese of Galloway no longer have parish priests and therefore parishioners are trying to form their own communities: this can generate a strong spirituality but problems may occur when there are emergencies.  Moreover, many otherwise strong parish communities are concerned because of the aging congregation and the lack of young people who take an active role.

Lay persons from many “priestless parishes” had a very positive outlook on what they had already done to maintain a healthy spirituality.  In several churches there is successful “sharing” of services; other communities cope by having meetings in private homes and car-sharing to Eucharistic services and to distant parishes for Mass.

The laity recognise that they all had gifts and must use them, to allow priests to concentrate on doing things that only priests can do.  To this end not only should parishioners be more ready to undertake ministry within the parish, but priests should make it clear to them the tasks which are available and encourage people to come forward to do them. 

At the conclusion of this process, the people stressed that priests and laity need to support each other.

This Discussion Paper is a contribution to the ongoing consultation among the bishop, clergy and the people of the Diocese of Galloway .  The previous consultation focused on the Paper “Embracing the Future,” and what is offered here follows on from that. It arises out of the reality that the Church is changing, and that what was suitable in the past is now no longer sustainable.  There must be changes: changes in mindset, in expectations and in structures.  These are not issues to be faced at some time in the future, they must be embraced now.

In “Embracing Change” it is essential that there be consistent dialogue with the People of God in the Diocese of Galloway  -  the laity. This dialogue must lead to concrete decisions being made, and it is an essential part of the dialogue that we identify and name specific parishes and church buildings that may well have to face radical upheaval. The dialogue process will therefore seek to identify parishes which may well merge into one; parishes which will remain separate although they will be required to share a priest; and church buildings that will unfortunately have to close.

The proposal, therefore, is to look at situations where distinct parishes might share a priest, where parishes may merge, with one church being designated as the principal church in that area but both remaining open, and also to look at situations where parishes merge with the eventual closure of some buildings.

This is a matter of deep regret but it has to be recognised that with a decreasing number of active clergy, the falling number of parishioners, and the financial realities of the present economic climate, the present number of properties cannot be sustained.

This process involving the clergy and the people of the Diocese is to be guided by sound principles, the first of which is Dialogue. This discussion paper is a recognition that we are engaging with a process that will lead to change and decisions will have to be made quickly but before we reach that point there needs to be the widest possible consultation. This paper is intended not only for use among the clergy but also with the laity.

WE MUST PRAY FOR OUR PRIESTS AND DEACONS

AND CARE FOR THEM.

Principle: People will always be under the pastoral care of a priest, but he may not always live where people are used to finding him.

Principle: People will always have a church in which to celebrate the sacraments, but it may not be the building they are used to attending.

Principle: Mass will always be provided in an area but that area may be larger than we have become used to and people may have to travel further than they do at present.  The difficulty with travel must be borne in mind when discussing how parishes are to merge.

1st Stage is an immediate and Diocesan wide overhaul of Mass provision. Deaneries are asked to reduce the number of masses provided for Sundays and Holy Days of obligation to a more appropriate level and arrange those left to provide people with a choice of times and allow for priests to assist each other to a greater extent.

2nd Stage is to identify what parishes can be merged. Bearing in mind the point already made that this is a dialogue that will lead to decisions being taken, the proposals that follow are given in the first instance to instigate such dialogue.

3rd Stage is to consider the role of lay persons in ministering in schools (primary and secondary), hospitals, prisons, nursing homes, committees, etc  across the Diocese / local area.