Number of priests in Tuam archdiocese has more than halved in 25 years – Archbishop

The number of active priests in Tuam's Catholic archdiocese has more than halved over the past 25 years, while it has just two men training for the priesthood, Archbishop Michael Neary has noted.

Speaking in Westport on Thursday at an in-service gathering of priests of the archdiocese, he recalled how "when we gathered here in Hotel Westport in the autumn of 1996 for our first annual in-service, we had 115 diocesan priests in full-time ministry within, and 5 in ministries outside the archdiocese. We were assisted by 15 non-diocesans at that time, and 10 priests were fully retired. There were also 14 seminarians for the diocese in seminaries in Ireland and in Rome."

He continued: “Today, we have 47 diocesan priests in full-time ministry; we are assisted by 11 others; 1 diocesan priest working outside the diocese, and 34 priests are fully retired. There are two seminarians.” In the context he referred to “our indebtedness to many of our retired priests for their availability and for so generously giving of themselves to assist with their ministry.”

They were “living in a very different era. What the future will be like; who knows? It seems there are two alternatives in our approach to life right now: either the faith-filled approach or a negative one,” he said. “For us as priests, ours must be a faith-filled response,” he said.

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Respite

“Perhaps the respite that we have had with Covid has been providential. It has provided us with what you might call a ‘sos’, a rest, a time when we could take stock, reflect on what has been taking place, and reassess the way in which we live our priestly vocation,” he said.

They had discovered a new approach to sacraments, Confirmation without the Mass “smaller numbers, more dignified celebrations, and perhaps more dignified First Holy Communion and marriage ceremonies, too,” he said.

“Perhaps we are better equipped and more open now where the Holy Spirit is leading us through this synodal pathway” brought out by the Irish Episcopal Conference, he said.

The Archbishop, who was 75 earlier this year and has submitted his letter of resignation to Rome, thanked the priests for their support over the years. “I ask forgiveness from you if I have offended or hurt you in any way. I also forgive those who have done wrong to me. I never took that as personal, however,” he said.