Archbishop Dermot Farrell of Dublin says parishes are changing and they need to find new expressions that allow new forms of pastoral care to emerge.
In his Pentecost pastoral letter ‘Come, Holy Spirit, Fill Our Hearts with the Fire of Your Love’, the Archbishop spoke about creating new possibilities for mission for a changing world and celebrating in new ways what it means to be followers of Christ.
The largest diocese in the Irish Church is currently implementing its ‘Building Hope’ strategy, a process of pastoral renewal of parish communities amid changing demographics and falling vocations. Individual parishes are being restructured into ‘Parish Partnerships’ so as to share resources, ministries and leadership.
“If we have the courage to face up to the reality of our local Church today, we will clearly see that we need to travel lighter, and that already we need to let go of many things which we considered essential, but, which now – truth be told – overburden us,” the Archbishop said.
He warned that there will be a sense of grief and loss at having to let some things go, but there can also be liberation in letting go and starting anew. “Let us show ourselves faithful and creative, hope-filled and resilient, synodal and pro-active,” he appealed.
The Pentecost letter, he said, puts before the diocese a process which provides for initial reflection in parishes on their future. It sets out the steps to be taken when new parish structures and relationships are being considered through the ‘Modification of Parishes for Mission’ process.
Parish pastoral councils and partnership pastoral councils have been asked to find together a way into the future for their parishes through prayer, listening, discernment and decision-making. “We are all called to work co-responsibly in the forming of vibrant and faith-filled communities,” he said.