Making the diocesan appointments is getting increasingly difficult every year. This year, despite the small number of appointments it was exceptionally difficult due to a number of extra vacancies.
We now have 31 parishes out of 58 with no resident priest under 75 years of age.
Currently in 2025 we have 52 incardinated priests in active ministry under the age of 75.
In 2030 we will have 41.
In 2035 we will have 27.
In 2040 we will have 22.
These stark statistics speak for themselves.
It is not possible to continue to sustain the level of pastoral care we currently provide in the 58 parishes and 15 pastoral areas. It is clear that in the coming year and beyond we need to address this in order to be able to provide a structure to continue to offer pastoral care and for the well-being of clergy, volunteer ministers and all involved in faith related activities.
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