The evening will include dinner, a raffle, a band and DJ and an opportunity to meet many new people from across Ireland.
“We were welcomed by families whose focus is now day-to-day survival and whose aspirations have been reduced to bare essentials such as electricity and clean water.”
"The pastoral councils on both islands are vital to the life of the parish. In many ways they are an example of what we are now trying to do on the mainland – lay-led ministry." – Fr Patrick Burke
The declining numbers of available clergy and religious lend a sense of urgency to this development.
“The present situation of the shortage of vocations, the age profile of the priests and the stress associated with such realities needs serious reflection,” said Bishop Nulty.
“It will be impossible for us to hold on to the ways we lived parish in the past. The parishes of tomorrow will be ‘communities of intentional disciples’ sustained by committed and formed lay people.”
The role of lay people will be of the utmost importance going forward in the Church – Bishop Brendan Leahy.
New approach will see priests work across different parishes and while there won’t necessarily be a priest living in every parish, there will be a parish priest for every parish.
Aid to the Church in Need to publish ‘Persecuted and Forgotten? A Report on Christians oppressed for their Faith 2013-15’.
Over 10 years ago, Archbishop Martin began promoting the concept of lay people working in partnership with clergy in running parishes.
Results of feedback from 18-month listening survey in diocese's parishes highlights a range of concerns among young and old.
1994 genocide recalled as Rwandan bishops meet Pontiff in Rome.
