Anger in historic Mayo community over loss of resident parish priest
Straide parishioners meeting tonight to discuss shock decision
Parishioners in Straide are up in arms over the loss of their resident parish priest from September due to the impact of decreasing vocations.
A second public meeting is being held by the community to discuss the development after a meeting with the Bishop of Achonry, Paul Dempsey.
It will be held in St. Peter and Paul Church this evening (Tuesday) at 9 p.m. and a big attendance is expected.
A notice circulated in the village said the historical parish of Straide is 'angry' at the prospect of losing their resident PP, the position currently being filled by Fr. Martin Convey.
Kathleen Canning, a member of the local parish council, said much has been heard in recent times about the Synodal Path of consultation in the church and central to this approach is laity, clergy and religious working together.
She said: “We were very shocked that we were not consulted with, or listened to, in advance of the change being announced.
"The parish would have been very open to discussing the needs of the diocese and how Straide parish could help out, but we were not given an opportunity to do so.
“As a result there is a lot of hurt, even anger, in the parish right now. It’s not too late to address these feelings.
"We have no idea why our parish was singled out to lose its parish priest. We have a right to know.”
Bishop Dempsey broke the news when he addressed parishioners at Mass on July 10.
In his homily, he told them: “Many new challenges face us as an Irish Church and as a diocese. We are in a place we have never been before.
"The shortage of priests is starting to become a reality. Priests are retiring and we have no ordinations. Our last ordination was in 2013. The situation is very real this year.”
In announcing that Fr. Convey is being appointed PP of Collooney, Co. Sligo, from September, he said he understood it was not news the people of Straide wanted to hear.
He elaborated: “With the situation as it currently is, I don’t have a priest to reside there.”
He asked Fr. Stephen O’Mahony, PP in Bohola, to take on the extra responsibility of serving the parishioners of Straide, which he accepted.
“I understand this is a big change for the parish. I thank Fr. Martin and Fr. Stephen for generously taking on their new responsibilities.
"Fr. Martin has done great work here over the years - the beautiful church in Straide is a testimony to that.
“But there are also the bonds of friendship and service that he built up. It is not easy to move, I know that from my own experience. I wish him every blessing.
“As we enter this new chapter we will need to reflect upon how the new situation will work. It will involve changes as there will be one priest serving two parish communities.
"Change is not easy. I hope we can work together to see how best we can manage the new situation, something we will need to do over the coming months.”
Bishop Dempsey subsequently met representatives from Straide after a request was made for a meeting.
However, the position remains unchanged as the parishioners meet to discuss their next course of action.
“The broader implications of removing a PP from a rural community have not been thought through,” said Ms. Canning.