More and more priests are being driven to ‘breaking point’, as the demand of serving in multiple parishes takes a heavy toll.
There has been a surge in the number of elderly clergymen suffering mental and physical exhaustion, with many barely able to meet their increased workload, the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) found.
Over the past 30 years, the number of serving priests in Ireland has halved to nearly 2,000, with most of them now in their 70s.
But as the number of active clergy continues to fall – and with just 13 seminarians in training – the demands on serving priests have never been greater, while the future of the Church in Ireland has rarely looked bleaker.
Ahead of its annual general meeting (AGM) this Wednesday, the ACP – which represents around 1,000 clerics – said it was more concerned than ever over the rising numbers of their dwindling community suffering poor health and isolation.
Many priests are working beyond the retirement age of 75, with one churchman still running his parish at 96, according to the ACP. Working priests have never been busier, and the ACP spoke of one recent case where a cleric has to look after seven churches.
ACP spokesman Fr Tim Hazelwood said: ‘What’s happening at the moment is that instead of churches being closed down, priests are being given added work. I’d hate to see churches closing, but it would be the more practical solution in many cases.
‘Instead, our priests, who are fewer in number and all getting older, are having to work harder than ever before, because they’re being asked to cover more parishes. I know a case of one priest who’d just come back to work after having heart surgery, and he was very promptly given another church to look after.
‘It’s unsustainable, and it’s taken a big toll on priests’ mental and physical health.’ He continued: ‘Priests are now having to move around all the time, and because of this they’re feeling more isolated than they were previously – they no longer have the time to get to know their parishioners.’
ACP members have long argued the Church will only be revitalised with progressive measures, such as the ordination of women, the abolition of strict celibacy rules for ordained clerics, and priests who are married being invited back.
However, Fr. Hazelwood, parish priest of Killeagh, Co. Cork, admitted that he now thinks it is less likely that such reforms will come about under the current Pope.
‘I’m not optimistic we’ll see any big changes under Pope Leo, because he has a more central view than his predecessor,’ he said.
He added: ‘One measure that has been taken is to invite priests in from other countries, but that has had mixed success and I think a lot of the priests who’ve come to Ireland have been shocked at how small Mass attendances are now over here, and how peripheral the priest has now become in the parish.’