Bishop Martin Hayes made the comments he announced the 2026 clergy appointments but pointed to the "opportunity" to get more lay people involved in Church work.
Almost one in three (30%) Kilmore priests are now over 75 years of age, with some fully retired; almost half (47%) are over 70; while 60% are over 65. Two-thirds are over 60, leaving just one-third - or only 20 priests - under that age. Just nine priests, including those serving from overseas, are under the age of 40.
The situation has necessitated greater lay involvement, collaborative ministry and the contribution of priests serving from abroad.
“It means that the task of providing priests for each parish into the future in Kilmore Diocese is challenging and amounts to a crisis,” Bishop Hayes said.
“It affords the opportunity for increased lay involvement in our parishes, ongoing prayer for priestly vocations and our appreciation of the availability and giftedness of our priests from abroad. Together, we are embracing new models of parish ministry.”
He said the women and men selected as candidates for Lay Pastoral Ministry have successfully completed the first year of their two-year formation programme following six months of discernment.
“Trusting in the Good Lord, we look forward to the collaboration of our priests, deacons and lay pastoral workers into the future," he said. "We can never have enough people with the capacity for listening, ministry and working together in the spirit of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Pastoral Councils
Bishop Hayes also announced the recruitment of new Parish Pastoral Councils following the completion of the current councils' four-year term. Information events will be held in September, with new councils to be formed in October and commissioned early in the New Year.
“Each Parish Pastoral Council, together with our priests and deacons, is vital in prayerfully identifying the needs of their parish and in responding by coordinating the gifts of parishioners for the sake of their local community,” he outlined.
Reflecting on the wider challenges facing the Church, Bishop Hayes added: “Together, we in Kilmore Diocese, as people, deacons, priests of our diocese and from abroad, and bishop embrace the crisis of the evident reduction in vocations to diocesan priesthood in Ireland. It is our opportunity with God's help to give witness to our faith.”
Announcing a series of clergy appointments and retirements, Bishop Hayes thanked priests, deacons, diocesan staff and volunteers for their faithful service and acknowledged the generosity of clergy who continue to minister beyond retirement age.
He also congratulated priests celebrating milestone anniversaries of ordination this year: Very Rev Fr Peter McKiernan, PP Crosserlough (Golden Jubilee), Very Rev Fr John Sexton, Adm Ballaghameehan/Kiltyclogher and Chaplain to St Clare's Comprehensive, Manorhamilton (Ruby Jubilee), and Msgr Enda Murphy, Chaplain to Pope Leo XIV at the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in Rome (Silver Jubilee).
Bishop Hayes further remembered the priests who have died since January 2025: Fr Eamonn Bredin, Fr Bernard Doyle, Fr Michael Gilsenan ss cc, Fr Patrick Brady, Fr Philip Brady, Fr Oliver O'Reilly, Msgr Michael Cooke, Fr Anthony Fagan and Fr Patrick McHugh.
He concluded by referring to Pope Leo's Apostolic Letter on priesthood, A Fidelity That Generates the Future, which states that "every vocation in the Church arises from a personal encounter with Christ", before ending with a prayer for an increase in vocations to the priesthood in Kilmore Diocese.