By Sean Ryan - 30 September, 2017
The Archbishop of Cashel & Emly, Dr. Kieran O’Reilly, has initiated a Listening Process in the Archdiocese with the aim of getting the views of the people of the Archdiocese on how best to chart the future of the Catholic Church.
In a Pastoral Letter issued by the Archbishop, an invitation is extended to each member of the Church to participate in ‘’the listening discernment and planning for the future of our Church in the Archdiocese. Over the coming months I invite the people and priests of each of our parishes to engage with this listening process. I also invite those who have, for various reasons, left our church communities to make their contribution to the process’’.
The pastoral letter is entitled ‘’Prepare the Way of the Lord’’ and sets out the Archbishop’s vision for the listening process. He writes ‘’since coming to the Archdiocese I have had the opportunity to visit all 46 parishes and I have experienced the commitment of so many people to their parish. In particular, the conferring of the Sacrament of Confirmation highlights the important role of schools and the dedication of teachers, parents, priests as well as parishioners. The growth in faith of the young people receiving the sacraments is a concern, as they are the future of our church. Therefore, we have to plan on how best we will share and pass on the light of faith’’.
Speaking about the how the Listening Process will work, Archbishop O’Reilly said ‘’A Pastoral team with lay and clerical members will oversee pastoral development in the Archdiocese. The team will be led by Fr Martin Hayes who was recently appointed as the full-time Director for Pastoral Planning and Development. He will engage with the people and priests of each parish, oversee and organise the listening process, and also plan and lead new pastoral initiatives’’.
The process sees the formation of a Diocesan Pastoral Council, the holding of joint meetings of the Diocesan Pastoral Council and the Council of Priests , the Listening Process and then a final phase on pastoral planning.
