Priests in the diocese of Meath have been taking part in their first major conference for several years to address the future of parish ministry and renewal in the priestly life. Among the topics they have discussed have been evangelisation, liturgy, youth ministry, rationalisation of Masses and working with the media.
Conference speakers included the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, who recently came from the US to work in deprived areas of Limerick city, Fr Bernard Murphy from The Bronx in New York, independent senator Ronan Mullen and journalist John Waters.
RTE newsreader Eileen Dunne acted as chairperson for the event.
Spokesman Fr Denis Nulty said the conference was organised by the Council of Priests and its purpose was “to engage all the participating priests in the opportunities and challenges the Church of the diocese will face into the future and to equip us with skills to meet those challenges and to take up those opportunities as they arise”.
“The footprint of Church in the diocese is changing rapidly with population expansion, less priests and ordained personnel and heavier demands on all in pastoral ministry,” Fr Nulty explained.
“While our ultimate goal is to preach the good news of Jesus Christ in season and out of season, we need perhaps a new skill, a new confidence and a new conviction to convey this message. It is the hope of the Council of Priests that our three-day conference helps us along the road to achieving these goals.”
The conference was taking place as Bishop Michael Smith announced a wide-ranging reshuffle of his clergy.
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(Source: CIN)