This article is from page 8 of the 2011-11-22 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
THE Bishop of Killaloe, Kieran O’Reilly has acknowledged the challenge posed by falling Mass numbers and the “flight” of parishioners from the Catholic Church.
In a pastoral letter, Dr O’Reilly says diocesan statistics show a decline in the attendance at Sunday liturgies. He also focuses on the “growing spectre of unemployment and emigration” and the impact the economic crises is having on families.
Dr O’Reilly states that, since his ordination, he has met with parish pastoral councils, finance committees and apostolic work groups, noting, “How much women contribute to the life of the parishes?”
He writes, “To all involved in parish life, I want you to know that your involvement and work in so many different ways, but especially in preparing children and young adults for the sacraments and organising liturgies, is valued and appreciated.”
Dr O’Reilly continues, “I have heard it said, when I am present in a parish for Confirmation, that many of those receiving the sacrament may not be in the Church again for some time. This “flight” from the Church is a challenge to our faith communities.” He writes, “This fact challenges us to raise questions about how the formation of our young people and their parents can be developed and improved. Coupled with this reality is the obvious decline in numbers now coming to Church on a regular basis. Recent Diocesan Statistics show a decline in attendance at Sunday Liturgies. This is a situation that calls for discussion and reflection over the coming months”.
Dr O’Reilly described the current levels of unemployment as “the most dramatic feature if Ireland that I have noticed”. He writes, “Time and again I ask myself, is the country about to lose a generation of young and not so young gifted people as we did in the past? We read and hear daily reports of what the cuts in public spending mean to many people struggling to meet their financial commitments, of how the sick, the handicapped, the elderly, the unemployed and the low paid seem to be the people to suffer most from these cuts. One outcome of this is the increasing number of marginalised people.
“Many families have financial commitments that they can no longer honour because of the economic situation, this is putting serious strain on families, and is a crisis that calls for a just resolution in the interest of the well being of our society. Hopefully, a strengthening of family ties and community solidarity will be an important factor in assisting people in such situations,” he adds.