Changes take place in Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly
Changes take place in Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly
Four neighbouring parishes in the area are to be grouped together under the Parish Pastoral Units being established in the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. The initial grouping in the area involves combining of Newport-Birdhill-Toor, Ballinahinch-Killoscully, Boher-Ballina and Murroe-Boher under the new arrangement to come into effect at the forthcoming beginning of Advent 2022, later this month.
The intention to have Parish Pastoral Units established in each parish and for adjoining parishes working together, follows on the Listening Process, which was carried out among the communities throughout the Archdiocese over recent years. Last July, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, Most Rev Dr Kieran O'Reilly, announced the intention to have the Parish Pastoral Units formed in a letter to parishioners in each of the parishes in the archdiocese. The combining of the four neighbouring parishes in this area makes up a total area in excess of 73,000 acres of which the parish of Newport is the largest and Ballina-Boher the smallest in land area, although Ballinahinch-Killoscully has the lowest parish population.
Valuable service At present the four parishes are being served by four parish priests and three APs, formerly parish priests in their respective parishes who following on their retirements in recent years have continued to provide a valuable service to their communities. At present there are five Saturday evening, Sunday vigil, Masses along with eight Sunday Masses celebrated across the four parishes each weekend. It is expected that there will be some revision of these Masses and Mass times throughout the area over the coming months and it is considered unlikely that the present number of weekend Masses can be sustained into the future. In recent years, priests in each of these four parishes have been assisting in their neighbouring parishes from time to time. A more formal arrangement of sharing of the church services is expected to be introduced following the formal combining of the parishes.