Mass rethink by cardinal as numbers fall
Jul 03, 2006
A shrinking number of priests and falling attendances have prompted a radical shake-up of the Roman Catholic Church in Edinburgh.
(scotsman.com, 27 Jun 2006) Cardinal Keith O'Brien, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, has drafted a plan which would see the establishment of five super-parishes across the city as estimates suggest the Capital's complement of priests will fall from 14 to just eight in the next nine years. It could mean several parishes having to share a single priest and many parishioners having to go further to Mass.
The move has been prompted by the parallel problems of half-empty churches, an ageing priesthood with many due to retire soon, and a shortage of new recruits.
In a consultation document setting out the proposals, Cardinal O'Brien said: "We have had to come to terms with some unwelcome facts about the dwindling number of priests and the increasing number of people who are no longer practising their faith.
"It has therefore become imperative to organise our pastoral ministry in ways that safeguard our greatest resource, our priests. We need to organise and target their ministry where it is most needed in the service of our people."
The proposed super-parishes cover vast areas of the city, one stretching from the city centre to Portobello and Craigmillar, another from Slateford to Balerno.
Most Catholic churches hold Mass at least twice over a weekend.
But under the new arrangements, while Mass would still be held in every church, there would be less choice, leaving parishioners with the option of travelling to another church within the super-parish.
Cardinal O'Brien said the proposed shake-up was designed to make the most of scarce resources and produce a stable structure that would serve the church's pastoral ministry for the next ten years.
The Archdiocese as a whole - which includes not only Edinburgh and the Lothians, but also the Borders, Stirling, Falkirk and Fife - has only 63 fully active priests to cover 106 parishes.
Some 38 parishes currently have no resident priest and some are already starting to pool their resources in order to keep going.
Cardinal O'Brien warned bluntly: "This situation is going to get worse." By 2010, the church expects to have fewer than 50 fully active priests for the diocese, and a diminishing number providing part-time support. By 2015, the number could be as low as 32.
Over the last ten years, baptisms have fallen from 1910 to 1075, and marriages from 608 to 333.
Only about a quarter of those baptised in the archdiocese attend Mass regularly.
The choice of key parishes had been based on factors such as the size of the church, the present Mass-going population, the potential for selecting, training and sustaining people for various pastoral ministries, geographical location and financial stability.
The consultation invites responses by September 18. There will then be two further rounds of consultation, with the aim of having the church's three-year plan in place a year from now.
A church spokesman said the changes should not mean massive disruption. "Instead of the church being just five minutes away, people might have to travel 15 minutes. People seem to manage that when it's going to B&Q on a Sunday."
Proposed parish groupings
1. St Mary's Cathedral
St John the Evangelist, Portobello
St Ninian, Marionville
St Mary Magdalene, Bingham
* St Teresa, Craigmillar
* St Patrick, Cowgate
2. St Peter, Morningside
St Columba, Newington
St Mark, Oxgangs
St John Vianney, Gilmerton
St Gregory, The Inch
St Catherine, Gracemount
*St Albert, George Square
3. St Margaret Mary, Granton
Holy Cross, Trinity.
St Paul, Muirhouse
St Margaret, Davidson's Mains
St Andrew, Belford Road
* St Mary Star of the Sea, Leith
4. St John the Baptist, Corstorphine
St Kentigern, Parkgrove
St John Ogilvie, Murrayburn
* St Joseph, Broomhouse
5. St Cuthbert, Slateford
Currie
Balerno
Ratho
Sacred Heart, Lauriston
* Parishes currently staffed by religious orders.
Mass rethink by cardinal as numbers fall