For the first time a parish in the Catholic diocese of Kerry is to operate without a resident priest, it was announced today.
The parish in the Kerry diocese of Allihies, overlooking the Atlantic ocean on the Beara peninsula, is to loose its resident priest, because of a shortage of clergy, Bishop of Kerry, Dr Bill Murphy told mass goers yesterday.
It will be the first time one of the 53 parishes of the ancient diocese of Kerry (called Ardfert from medieval times to the middle of the twentieth century) which includes west and north Cork will be without a priest.
But will not be the last time and “will be repeated in every one of the 12 pastoral areas of the diocese over the coming years,” Dr Murphy said.
It was with regret that the time had come to withdraw a priest from the Beara Pastoral Area, he said, and he knew the announcement was a sad day for the parish and the diocese.
“The reason for this decision is the reduction of the number of clergy ministering in the diocese. As most are aware there has been a shortage of vocations in recent years and this is now impacting forcefully throughout the diocese”.
Bishop Bill Murphy told Allihies parishioners yesterday, that although as a diocese we have been preparing for this day for some time: “I am filled with sadness in the knowledge that this action will leave a parish in our diocese, without a resident priest.”
Each of the three priests in the Beara pastoral area -Adrigole, Castletownbere and Eyreries will have a role in ministering Allihies.
This new reality was not entirely negative, the Bishop told massgoers in the diocese yestereday.
” It does provide an opportunity for laity to take their rightful place in leadership roles in our parishes. Due to the commitment of clergy and laity and the preparation that has been underway over the past number of years, I am confident that we will be able to manage this new situation well.”