Over one hundred representatives from thirty-two of the Elphin diocese’s thirty-eight parishes gathered in the Shannon Key West Hotel, Roosky, Co. Roscommon on Saturday October 13th for the diocese’s seventh annual Parish Development and Renewal Gathering.

Messages of good will from Bishop Kenneth Clarke, Church of Ireland Bishop of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh and Bishop Christopher Jones of the Elphin Diocese were read by Mary Mulligan Athlone and Msgr. Gerard Dolan PP, Rosses Point. Both bishops welcomed the growing interest in and commitment to Parish Development among Christians throughout Irish dioceses.

“God bids us welcome” was the chosen theme and the challenge of unpacking it fell upon Rev. Dr. Michael Duignan S.Th.D..

Fr. Michael, a native of Athlone, was ordained for the Elphin diocese in 1994 and since then has worked in a number of parishes and as chaplain at the Institute of Technology, Sligo. In 2006 he completed a doctorate in Dogmatic Theology at the Gregorian University in Rome. He currently holds a lectureship in religious education and theology along with the position of chaplain at St. Angela’s College, Sligo. He also serves on the Elphin diocese’s Pastoral Planning Group and Liturgy Commission.

In a letter encouraging participating in the gathering, Bishop Christopher Jones stressed the importance, in these times, of clergy, religious and laity coming together to discuss their understanding and experiences of Christian celebrations, especially Mass. Drawing upon a speech of Pope Paul VI during Vatican II he emphasised the need for all practicing Catholics to dedicate supreme care to such celebrations. “This is not an easy thing” he said. “It calls for a direct and methodic approach; it demands our persons, patient, loving and truly pastoral attention. It involves changing many habits; it means making every assembly a more active school of prayer and worship … It will take years but there is a need to start anew and to persevere, so that our gatherings will regain their solemn, unanimous, pleasing and sublime voice”.

Over the course of the morning Fr. Michael assisted delegates examine how all human beings, almost instinctively participate in celebrations and how in the process, they turn to the powerful, immensely rich and emotive world of symbol and ritual. He then proceeded to trace the development of Christian celebrations over the past two millennia, especially the Mass.

The sharing was greatly complimented by the personal sharing of four delegates: Jenny Darcy (Lecarrow), Angus Cantwell (Ballisodare), Sr. Breege Donohoe (Athlone) and Paul Keogh (Sligo). All spoke humbly and powerfully of their experiences of Mass at different times in their lives, of what it means to them and why they continue to value opportunities to participate. These, it must be said, however, are not nominal Catholics. All are committed to their faith and have an abiding sense of God’s love for all of us.

Another powerful aspect of the day was the contribution of Sligo-based Elation Ministries, a seven strong young adult musical and singing group who recently launched an excellent CD (review later). In addition to leading the Gathering in song they gave powerful expression to the emotions and feelings they associate with Mass and served as a timely reminder to all present to seek , welcome and integrate the goodwill and talents of young people into Sunday celebrations.

In this way the stage was set for an afternoon characterised by very meaningful, poignant and highly constructive sharing among delegates around their and other Catholics experiences of Mass and of the need for significant change re: ownership of the Sunday Mass. With priests in decline there is a great need for laity to become involved in planning and preparing good celebrations and for the minority of priests who continue to exclude the greater participation of laity to examine their style of spiritual leadership.

Concern was also expressed owing to the significant numbers of young Catholics who no longer worship with their parishes on Sunday, prompting the question “Will some churches be French restaurants in ten years time?” This has happened on the continent and given that there are over 120 Churches in the Elphin diocese and the projected number of priests under seventy-five for 2011 is thirty-nine (72 priests serving parishes today) not every Church is likely to have Mass every Sunday in four years time. This also raised the question as to how Christian communities will mark Sunday in their parish when Mass is not an option.

Many positive developments were also noted. For example there has been a notable increase in lay involvement in many Elphin parishes and fantastic energy is being brought to the celebration of Christmas and Easter and celebrations such as Confirmation and First Holy Communion. Many committed parishioners take great pride in their Churches. Faith and Fun clubs and Children Liturgy Groups are also on the increase and earlier this year over 500 adults across sixteen parishes participated in a new Gospel-based prayer initiative that brought people together for shared prayer in each others’ homes. The contribution of parish choirs was also lauded as was the decision of the diocese two years ago to host annual workshops for choirs. Since then more contemporary hymns suited to a true celebration of Mass have been introduced and are playing a powerful part in helping people to pray and to experience the connection between Mass and the challenge of Christian living.

On a less positive but equally authentic note questions were raised concerning greying congregations, low morale among some clergy, empty seats, deteriorating health and well-being of certain parishes and the significant decline of some as lively faith communities. The Gathering recognised the need for every parish to give more attention to Sunday celebrations of Mass, particularly where they are waning in terms of augmenting Christ’s gift of himself to the Church and to the world. There was consensus that it is not easy for priests to be enthused when congregations tend to gather around the door of the Church rather than the altar and when little effort is made by congregation members to foster a sense of being a community within our Churches. Fr. Michael also stressed the importance of complimenting priests when they give a good homily, nothing that priests receive much more affirmation abroad.

The suggestion that all is not well in some parishes was also mooted and there was consensus that the transformative power of the Eucharist, Jesus’ capacity to strengthen and encourage all parishioners is being masked by insufficient communal preparation.

By way of concluding remarks delegates suggested that it is time this conversation began to happen both in parishes and between parishes.

Movement towards managing change is however severely hampered by the lack of forward planning on the part of many priests to prioritise events such as this annual gathering. For example, this year only twelve priests were present. Many priests, either knowingly or unknowingly had stations and/or weddings and baptisms in their parishes. In this context many delegates requested that priests be encouraged to come to future gatherings with their lay representatives. Some also communicated the frustration of returning to priests, who owing to their absences, have little comprehension of the need for an examination of the status quo in parishes, to everyone’s benefit.

In concluding Fr. Michael Duignan reminded delegates that faith celebrations don’t just happen. They require a faith community, a living parish with an engaging leadership (not just a priest) to think about them, to plan them and to creatively and meaningfully invite people to partake in them. He strongly encouraged delegates never to become despondent but to rediscover the power of symbol and ritual to speak to our heads and hearts, to effect our emotion and embolden our spirit. He also invited delegates to initiate similar conversation back in their parishes, particularly among Parish Pastoral Council members and the persons who already contribute to the planning and preparation of Masses. “God will help us but he does not do what we can do for ourselves”.

Commenting briefly after the Gathering, Justin Harkin, the Elphin diocese’s Director of Pastoral Development and executive to the Organising Committee, stated “It’s great to see this conversation taking place. God continually bids us welcome but we don’t always recognise his presence. Today was a timely reminder to be thinking people, to stand back and reflect, to value all that is good and to consider that the Holy Spirit may be saying vis-à-vis our celebration of Mass. We were also challenged to be courageous and to work with the Holy Spirit as he reshapes our outlook and character. If we are not growing we are dying. I don’t think anyone wants that, whatever their views on Mass. For those of us who are committed, these are exciting times. It was also wonderful to experience the faith of all present. Days like this are also about recharging the batteries of people who are very committed to their parishes, priests and laity. Fr. Michael and all who contributed did that for us. That’s something that cannot be caught on paper”.