Examiner newspaper: Kerry diocese makes history as lay people step up amid growing priest shortage
As Ireland faces a priest shortage, Kerry’s Diocese is empowering 25 lay ministers to take on key roles in parish life.
Wed, 19 Mar, 2025 – 05:00
Mairead Sheehy
As the Catholic Church across the country struggles to balance the loss of ageing priests through death and retirement, with a shortage of younger men devoting their lives to the priesthood, the Diocese of Kerry is putting its fate in the hands of lay people. Last month saw the initiation of 25 pastoral leaders into the church during a ceremony in Killarney.
The Diocese of Kerry is the first to introduce this historic change, allowing lay people to take on roles traditionally carried out by a priest, in a bid to bridge the gap caused by the declining numbers of priests.
The diocese, which is made up of 53 parishes ranging from North Cork to Valentia Island, is one of the largest of the 26 dioceses in Ireland.
With more than 139,000 Catholics in the diocese, there is a significant shortfall in the number of priests to administer to parishioners, with just 46 working priests last year.
Records show 28 priests incardinated in the diocese have since retired or work outside of the diocese.
The ministry of pastoral leaders marks a new milestone for the diocese and will involve the coordination and support of pastoral ministry in parishes.
The leaders will work with the clergy and parish secretaries on a voluntary basis and carry out tasks such as bringing Communion to people who are housebound.
Link to full article:
https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster/arid-41587315.html