The Archdiocese of Tuam is looking to pastoral councils as a
''positive and constructive'' solution for the decreasing numbers of
priests in the diocese.
In recent weeks Archbishop Michael Neary has been speaking at Masses
across the diocese to encourage people to get involved in Church related
ministries and organisations as a way forward for the Church.
At Mass in Castlebar, Archbishop Neary said that
historically people have been ''conditioned and tend to expect a certain
service from our priest'' but that was no longer a reality.
Over the
last five years, 25 priests in the Tuam archdiocese have died, while
just one new priest was ordained.
Archbishop Neary said that people and priests working together ''as a
team'' will ensure that ''Christ's gospel will be available to every
person in the parish wishing to make contact with it''.
To this end, the
archbishop released Fr Pat Farragher from parish duties two years ago
to work full-time on supporting the creation of pastoral councils as a
solution to the vocations crisis in the diocese.
The archbishop also spoke of ''an urgent need for a spirit of
national solidarity and hope'' in facing the problems in the national
economy.
He said that as a people Ireland has coped with and overcome
difficult challenges in the past.
''Ireland is particularly blessed with
people of extraordinary generosity and social concern. So many people
give of their time, talent and resources to help those around them who
are in need.
''At this time in our country there is an urgent need for hope. For
Christians, hope is the ability to see God in the midst of all our
troubles. It involves trusting in God's promise to turn everything to
our good, as St Paul said, ''if God is for us who can be against us''.
''From this conviction that God is with us comes the strength to be
positive in outlook and to work with determination to change the reality
in which we find ourselves,'' he said.