THE priests of the future in the Catholic Church are in our community and living and working among us according to the Archbishop of Tuam, Francis Duffy.
The Archbishop of Tuam made the comments at a special Chrism Mass in St Muredach's Cathedral in Ballina where 64 men and women in the Diocese of Killala were commissioned as Catholic Church lay leaders.
The new lay leaders were commissioned having spent two years studying at the Newman Institute in Ballina to enable them to work alongside priests and co-lead various rites, including funerals.
In his homily, Archbishop Duffy, who is also the Apostolic Administrator of the Killala Diocese, told the congregation that he has listened to the concerns of the people of the diocese and the worries over declining vocations.
He described the new lay leaders as '64 green shoots' and that the priests of the future are living among us.
“There are worries about the declining number of priests and few vocations to replace them. You have said very clearly to me you want priests; I have heard that. Don’t forget the priests of the future are now in your homes, in your families, on your local football teams, in colleges, in apprenticeships and in employment. They are among us,” he said.
“I also hear and see, lots of hope for the future. There are the many people who believe in God, who have deep devotion, who pray, who are happy and enthusiastic to be Catholic. Those who love Jesus and the Mass, those who receive the sacraments, those who instinctively assist others. There are many who adhere faithfully to Catholic teaching and tradition. There is faith, deep faith, among many, many people in this diocese."
“One of those green shoots of hope, or maybe 64 green shoots, are the 64 recent graduates in Lay Leadership at the Newman Centre, Ballina, who will be commissioned at this Chrism Mass to work in our parishes. Your commitment, your generosity and your enthusiasm are exemplary. Leadership does not depend just on a course, but on faith, on hope, and above all on a relationship with Jesus Christ. That is what makes the disciple; Jesus, he makes and moulds the disciple,” Archbishop Duffy added.
Almost 70 volunteers signed up for the two-year Certificate in Lay Leadership: Theology, Culture and Ministry at the Newman Institute in Ballina, which began in 2023 under the guidance of course director, Fr Michael Gilroy of the Newman Institute.
Archbishop Duffy said the work of lay leadership in a parish will be shared by 'these chosen women and men', to work with and alongside the priest, the parish pastoral councils and others.
“So, today in this Diocese of Killala, a carefully researched and long prepared initiative comes to fruition with the commissioning of lay leaders. As you listen to their undertaking, to their promises, you will see this is a very practical, increasingly necessary, and very much a baptismal calling of the faithful, to take responsibility, in particular circumstances, for the mission of the Church, for the mission of spreading that good news of Jesus.
“In interpreting the signs of the times, the voice of the faithful and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Diocese of Killala said ‘yes’ we have to do something, ‘yes’ we have to listen and plan. The diocese did something in putting recruitment and training in place, then graduation and now commissioning. The next stage is implementation of these initiatives in the various parishes.”
Archbishop Duffy also expressed his gratitude to the people who brought the project to fruition and commended the former Bishop of Killala, John Fleming for 'his foresight and his great wisdom in guiding this historic project'.