The Archdiocese of Dublin will not have enough priests to fill all
current vacant roles, informed sources have revealed. This is the first time in its history that vacancies outnumber manpower but comes as no surprise given the fall in vocations to the diocese.
However, the uncertainty which surrounds the annual summer appointments list this year is causing growing alarm among the small minority of younger priests who feel it is they who will be asked to further shoulder the burden with every increasing workloads.
One young priest said: “There are not enough priest to fill the gaps. Are we waiting for the ship to sink? Younger priests are given all the work. Archbishop Martin has spoken about a listening Church but who is listening to the priests? If there was a vision we could at least feel we are working our backs off to achieve it but there isn’t. It is time to talk to priests but many despair that those kind of open discussions will ever happen.”
At this point the priestly shortage does not appear to have be replicated in other dioceses announcing recent appointments.
Both Clogher and the Diocese of Cork and Ross have filled all parish vacancies.