The Diocese of Cloyne has published plans outlining details of new pastoral areas that are to come into effect under agreed changes.
Following a series of meetings and discussions overseen by a Cloyne Diocesan review group, the aim of the revised areas is to provide a more effective pastoral service to all parishes in the diocese.
Under the plans, the 46 parishes across Cloyne will be divided into 15 separate pastoral areas.
While changes will see the individual parishes retain their autonomy and structures, the plan aims to improve pastoral care and support for the communities within these pastoral areas.
A timeline for the establishment of the pastoral areas has yet to be agreed upon, but the diocese has committed to sharing more information with the priests and pastoral councils in due course.
A draft map illustrates the agreed 15 pastoral areas.
For example, the parishes of Macroom, Aghinagh and Aghabullogue are to come together to form one new pastoral area.
While the parishes of Donoughmore, Grenagh, Blarney and Inniscarra would also come together under a new pastoral area.
The Bishop of Cloyne, William Crean, told The Echo “We have met with priests and we have met with representatives from all of the parishes, asking questions about how best we make sure that the pastoral life of the parishes will be services into the future.
“Really our development of the pastoral areas is to enable the leadership in all of the parishes to work together in a structured way. To make sure all of the areas in the various parishes are being looked after,” said Bishop Crean.
“We have been engaged in discussions right across the diocese for about 15 months now. It has been directed by a group, mostly of lay people, who I have invited to serve as a diocesan review group.
“They have looked at basically the status of the diocese just at this time, such as the number of priests, the number of schools and various organisations that we have at work and service in the diocese,” he added.
“The purpose of these adjustments is to support and strengthen one another and our families in the faith. As we move forward it is important for us not to focus on numbers alone. Rather the quality and depth of our commitment is what matters.
“We are grateful to all who are leading us on this path of renewal and adjustment.”