WOMEN have started taking to the altar across Ireland to deliver holy services as stand-ins for over-worked priests.
Mass-goers in one parish in west Dublin were taken aback by the sight of women leading the congregation, with some traditional believers even walking out.
But the weekly service by two lay women in St Mochta’s Church, in Porterstown, has become increasingly popular.
It is thought that women will become a common sight on the altar in this decade as the number of priestless parishes rises.
A probe by RTÉ’s Would You Believe into the future of the Church uncovered the practice of lay women carrying out a service of the word with Holy Communion, which is essentially Mass without consecration.
Alice Crotty, who was trained by her parish priest, Fr John Daly, professes the word of God at Porterstown every Wednesday when he is away.
"Priests thought they could do it all on their own but I think they are beginning to realise now that God is working through others and they must allow others to come in," she said.
"Lay people have agreed to step out and be part of the Church. Initially a few people would come in on a Wednesday morning and see us on the altar and go out the door again but that has changed and we are having a bigger number every Wednesday.
"I see this as a great challenge to show we really do believe in God and we are part of it and God is speaking to us just the same as he is to the bishops and priests and everybody."
The practice has been carried out in New Zealand and Australia, where there are shortages of priests.
While the women carry out the service on the altar, they are not allowed to carry out the consecration part of the Mass and hand out communion that has been previously consecrated.
But the weekly service by two lay women in St Mochta’s Church, in Porterstown, has become increasingly popular.
It is thought that women will become a common sight on the altar in this decade as the number of priestless parishes rises.
A probe by RTÉ’s Would You Believe into the future of the Church uncovered the practice of lay women carrying out a service of the word with Holy Communion, which is essentially Mass without consecration.
Alice Crotty, who was trained by her parish priest, Fr John Daly, professes the word of God at Porterstown every Wednesday when he is away.
"Priests thought they could do it all on their own but I think they are beginning to realise now that God is working through others and they must allow others to come in," she said.
"Lay people have agreed to step out and be part of the Church. Initially a few people would come in on a Wednesday morning and see us on the altar and go out the door again but that has changed and we are having a bigger number every Wednesday.
"I see this as a great challenge to show we really do believe in God and we are part of it and God is speaking to us just the same as he is to the bishops and priests and everybody."
The practice has been carried out in New Zealand and Australia, where there are shortages of priests.
While the women carry out the service on the altar, they are not allowed to carry out the consecration part of the Mass and hand out communion that has been previously consecrated.