Pope Francis announces number of changes in biggest restructuring of Irish Church in 900 years

The announcement was made this morning simultaneously in Rome by the Vatican and in Tuam by the Papal Nuncio to Ireland, His Excellency Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayer.

The restructuring plan will see the six dioceses that comprise the Western Province overseen by just three bishops instead of six.

The scaling back of the number of episcopal positions may be the first step in a more far-reaching and wider process of restructuring for the Irish Church in light of concerns that the current diocesan boundaries no longer reflect the distribution of the Catholic population.

The Catholic Church on the island of Ireland is divided into 26 dioceses, the boundaries of which have remained essentially unchanged since the 12th century. Some ecclesiastical experts have called for a streamlining of this number in light of falling Mass attendances and the decline in vocations.

The retirement of Bishop John Fleming of Killala, Co Mayo, diocese today was the trigger for the move.

Pope Francis has decided that one of the country’s youngest and most popular prelates, Bishop Paul Dempsey, is to leave the Diocese of Achonry in Sligo to take up a position as an auxiliary bishop in Dublin, the country’s largest diocese. Dr Dempsey is likely to be ear-marked for renewal and outreach to young people in Dublin.

His position in Achonry will be taken on by Bishop Kevin Doran of Elphin who will administer Achonry while continuing in his role in Roscommon.

Meanwhile, Archbishop Francis Duffy of Tuam, Co Galway, has been appointed to oversee the diocese of Killala as Apostolic Administrator in addition to his role in Tuam.

Archbishop Duffy, who concelebrated Mass on Wednesday morning in Tuam Cathedral with the Papal Nuncio, said afterwards that the Church in Ireland is “living in changing times”.

He said he looked forward to getting to know the people, priests and religious ethos of the diocese of Killala, as well as its traditions and heritage, “as we work together towards union between the two dioceses of Killala and Tuam”.

According to Dr Duffy, the changes announced in relation to the reconfiguration of dioceses in the Western province follow on from consultations carried out by the Papal Nuncio with groups of people in the dioceses of Achonry, Elphin, Killala and Tuam.

Though a lot of groundwork in both the civil and canonical spheres will have to be carried out in order to implement the proposed changes, Dr Duffy highlighted: “Fortunately, there is already a well-established practice of collaboration and cooperation between the western dioceses. This is a sure sign of hope for the success of the important work that in now underway.”

This is a reference to the doubling up which is already underway in the diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora and the Diocese of Clonfert under Bishop Michael Duignan.

In Tuam on Wednesday, Dr Duignan said: “Today is a day when I think we could truly say that ‘the West’s Awake’. Awake to the need to reconfigure and restructure for renewal and mission.”

He prayed for the renewal of the faith as the West of Ireland’s faith communities journey “together towards tomorrow”.

Bishop Kevin Doran of Elphin, who will now also administer the diocese of Achonry, said: “We are called to look beyond existing boundaries.”

He said he saw in the announcement “the possibility of a new Springtime”.