Shortage of priests in Northern Ireland could affect funerals

A senior cleric has warned that a shortage of priests in some parts of Northern Ireland could mean there is no one available to provide Funeral Mass for families, the Belfast Telegraph has reported. 

The news comes after Bishop Donal McKeown, who is in charge of the Diocese of Derry, has had to take up a second role as the Apostolic Administrator for Down and Connor. 

McKeown alerted parishioners to the crisis on Sunday (28 May), while a pastoral letter outlined the consequences of dwindling numbers of young people entering into the priesthood. 

The consequences will affect around 3,000 funerals and 800 marriages that are celebrated in the diocese each year, usually in the form of a special Mass. 

The correspondence said that the “statistical realities” will mean it is necessary to change how approximately 84 currently active priests are supported in an area with 86 parishes and 146 churches. 

According to McKeown’s prediction, the number of clergymen will drop to just 24 within the next two decades. He also stated that it is no longer fair to ask priests to carry on with workloads and demands that are “not sustainable”. 

As a result, a number of parishes are preparing to take part in pilot projects that will see regular people assist families preparing for funerals by leading prayers at grave sites or in the crematorium.  

McKeown has committed to continuing in his dual role until a permanent Diocesan Bishop for Down and Connor is found, but at present, he is managing the largest pastoral area on the entire island. This includes 51 parishes in the Diocese of Derry with 260,000 parishioners, in addition to the 406,000 in Down and Connor.

The clergyman warned that with only seven priests in the diocese aged under 40, the number of priests in active ministry will drop by almost 50% in just over 10 years.