Another Catholic diocese in the region is making changes to enable it cope with the problem of fewer and older priests.
This time, it’s the Diocese of Clogher, which includes parts of Donegal and Cavan.
The 37 parishes and 85 churches in the diocese are served by just 58 priests, a reduction of about a third in 20 years.
Of those 58, almost half are over the age of 65. And, of these, 14 have retired as parish priests.
Only seven priests in the diocese are under the age of 50.
In the past yer alone, the diocese has lost the services of seven priests.
Four parish priests are now due to retire.
The situation means there will be fewer priests and fewer Masses.
New parish priests will have to take charge of more than one parish.
Not every parish wil have a parish priest.
And the availability of priests and the saying of Masses will depend on neighbouring parishes working together.
Priests in the diocese have been meeting with the diocesan administrator, Monsignor Joseph McGuinness — who’s in charge until a new bishop is apppointed — to arrange weekend and weekday Masses and other liturgies.
It’s all part of the effort to deal with what has been described as the ‘immediate challenges’ that Clogher — and many other dioceses — are now facing.
