A vision for our parish

In ten years’ time there are likely to be nearly 25 per cent fewer priests than we have here in our diocese of Southwark at present. Or to put that another way, for every four priests serving us today, only three will be in active ministry by the year 2016. That’s a big reduction. The reason, of course, is a drop in priestly vocations.

To plan ahead in order to manage that reduction, Archbishop Kevin is launching a consultation process entitled ‘Towards A Vision For The Diocese’. As outlined in his pastoral letter read at all Masses on the first Sunday of Advent, a consultation paper with that title is already accessible on the diocesan website (www.rcsouthwark.co.uk). Leaflets outlining the process are due for publication any time now and will be distributed here in St Columba’s as in every other parish in the diocese.

The first thing to note is that there is no need to panic. We are not suddenly going to be left without any priests. The second is that the Archbishop wants to know our views on how we should cope with the likely future situation. He wishes to consult us all, laity and clergy alike, on the future of our parishes.

As Archbishop Kevin points out, we are in a good position compared with other dioceses, which already have to cope with far fewer priests. But as well as praying for vocations, we also need now to discern plans and strategies for living with a situation of fewer priests. Hence his call for all of us in the diocese to get involved in a process of prayer, reflection and consultation; to take stock of the resources in each and every parish and to share ideas about the future life of our parish, deanery and diocese.

In his ‘Vision’ consultation paper, the archbishop has incorporated a programme for discussion in deaneries and parishes of three particular issues. Those are:

  1. Growing in communion – how do we build up the life of the Church?
  2. Reaching out in mission – how do we reach out beyond our community to evangelise people who have lost their faith or have no faith?
  3. Facing the future – how do we respond to a situation in which it is increasingly difficult to provide the kind of pastoral provision we had when there were far more priests?

In order to enable parishioners to discuss those issues, there will be meetings in parishes throughout the diocese between now and the end of Lent 2007. All Catholics are invited to participate so that together, guided by the Holy Spirit, we can contribute our views both on the best way of handling these changes and also how to build the ongoing life of the Church.

As the archbishop points out, we need to think not simply in terms of our own parish but of the wider community, particularly the deanery. Already, in some places, he points out, parishes are sharing resources in areas like sacramental preparation and it may be that deployment of clergy and the availability of the Eucharist will undergo change.

He adds: ‘The future…will be characterised by greater involvement and collaboration among all the baptised – lay and ordained… The gifts and ideas of all need to be recognised, affirmed and nurtured.’

Once Archbishop Kevin has received reports from each of the deaneries – the deadline is the end of April 2007 – and knows the thoughts, opinions and suggestions of each parish, he will then issue a fuller ‘Vision’ statement for the future.

Deacon Philip

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