Priests to be shared with masses cut back
Local cleric expects major changes but funerals won’t be ‘doubled up’ just yet
An Inishowen Catholic cleric says a continuing shortage of vocations will lead to parish priests being shared among different parishes here ‘in the very near future’ with the frequency of Masses set to be significantly reduced.
Fr. Michael Canny was reacting to an Association of Catholic Priests’ contention that funerals or weddings could soon be ‘doubled up’ due to a dearth of new priests.
The ACP is predicting a scenario soon when several funerals could take place during the same Requiem Mass ceremony.
And while the Urris-born cleric doesn’t expect to see coffins lined up in front of altars in the Derry diocese anytime soon, he concedes that many funerals may have to be delayed pending the availability of priests.
“When it comes to funerals there will have to be discussion about the availability of a priest before definite burial plans can be made,” he said.
A leading spokesman for the Derry Diocese, Fr. Canny said the current system of single weddings and single funerals a is relatively new one.
“I, in my time, recall having three coffins present for one funeral Mass and I know of older people whose wedding ceremony was part of a group, where they did best man and bridesmaid for each other.”
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