THE Number of Masses across Clogher diocese is to be reduced by around 15 per cent with some Catholic churches here to have Mass only on designated Sundays.
In a pastoral letter diocesan administrator, Monsignor Joseph McGuinness outlined a reduction in the nummber of Masses which will come into effect from the weekend of 6-7 October 2018.
The decrease, which Mgr McGuinness has described as ‘moderate’, will result in many parishes now having Masses being rotated between two or three churches at weekends; with some parishes only having Mass on designated Sundays each month.
The Church of the Immaculate Conception, Monea will alternate Sunday Mass services with the Church of the Sacred Heart, Boho. Simlarly, St Mary’s Church, Arney will alternate Mass services weekly with St Joseph’s Church, Mullaghdun while St Patrick’s Church, Belleek will also see an alternation in services with Church of Our Lady, Queen of Peace, Garrison.
Parishoners will also notice greater collaboration of priests from neighbouring parishes.
On a more frequent basis neighbouring priests will preside at the Sunday Eucharist.
Presently just 58 priests are covering 37 parishes and 85 churches across the diocese, with 48 percent of these priests over 65. Mgr McGuinness has recognised that the ‘aging profile’ of priests locally is now having an impact on the churches ability to maintain the prior level of service.
In line with this the diocese has also noted that further changes will become necessary in the time ahead as pastrol areas continue to review local circumstances.
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