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	Shortage of Priests Forces Reform of Diocese By John Cooney Irish Independent November 3, 2008 http://www.independent.ie/national-news/shortage-of-priests-forces-reform-of-diocese-1518414.html Cardinal Sean Brady has launched a blueprint to reorganise the archdiocese of Armagh through greater lay participation in the running of the Catholic Church, as it is confronted with a chronic shortage of priests. The Primate of All Ireland and Archbishop of Armagh signalled sweeping reform changes to counteract diminishing vocations and an ageing priesthood in a pastoral letter, 'Diocese in Transition -- Parishes in Partnership', distributed to all Catholics in the diocese at the weekend. Today, the Cardinal will unveil a three-year programme of pastoral renewal at a special consultation with priests and people in the Synod Hall of St Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh. In attendance at this landmark event in the long history of the Primatial See founded by St Patrick will be: the Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh, Dr Gerard Clifford; Ms Kate Acton, Director of Youth Ministry and Dr Tony Hanna, Pastoral Plan Coordinator. Strengthening The plan, "Strengthening Parishes in the 21st Century", involves three steps over the next three years. l Step 1, from today until next June, involves 'clustering' to share available clergy and resources without the necessity of amalgamating parishes. l Step 2, which will run to September 2010, will involve 'clusters of parishes' deciding on changes in fixing Mass times due to the declining number of priests, and will assess how resources in each structure should be allocated. l Step 3 involves the development and creation of new parish structures. Parishioners are invited to contribute to this process and will be consulted throughout. There are 61 parishes in the diocese -- 24 are in Co Louth within the Republic, two are on the border between Armagh and Louth. The rest are in the counties of Armagh, Tyrone and Derry inside Northern Ireland.The restructuring process has been undertaken by Cardinal Brady in response "to our rapidly changing times, to sustain pastoral growth, and to ensure that the Eucharist is celebrated in parishes every weekend". But the starkness of the shortfall in priests is clear from figures released by the Cardinal. Based on diocesan records for 2007, the diocese has 138 priests, compared with 186 in 1964, to minister 58,100 families and a Catholic population of 213,600. Only one priest is under the age of 30; 17 are aged between 30 and 39; 23 between 40 and 49; 24 between 50 and 59; 26 between 60 and 69; 34 between 70 and 79, and 13 are aged 80 and over. Of the 138 diocesan priests, 101 are in parish ministry, seven work on diocesan administration, one is serving abroad, one other is on study leave, while two are on sick leave and 26 are retired. In addition, 21 non-diocesan priests are in parish and chaplaincy ministry on behalf of the diocese, and 12 diocesan priests over 75 are still in active ministry. While acknowledging the decline in priests, Cardinal Brady said last night that this should be regarded as an opportunity for the diocese to move into the 21st century confident in meeting today's challenges for the Church. On Wednesday, RTE 1 will broadcast a Nationwide documentary 'At home with Cardinal Brady' presented by Mary Kennedy which will include a profile of St Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh.
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