Laity-led Clare parish gets priest for a year

A resident priest has been appointed to the east Co Clare parish of Killanena/Flagmount one year after the Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh, rendered the parish "priestless" after informing the community that the parish priest at the time would not be replaced.

However, Bishop Walsh has stressed that the appointment of Father Brendan Quinlivan is for 12 months only, and the situation will be reviewed next summer.

One year ago Bishop Walsh faced the harshest criticism of his five-year term as Bishop of Killaloe as the community expressed its anger at his decision.

In the intervening 12 months, the parish has been touted as a model for Catholic Church structures for the next millennium as the initial passion has been channelled into what Bishop Walsh describes as "people taking ownership of the church".

To enable the parishioners to achieve this, the founder of Rural Resource Ltd, Father Harry Bohan, was appointed to liaise with the community to ease the transition from a priest-dominated church to a people-centred one.

During the year, through the restructured parish council, the community organised a weekend retreat in March, took control of the finances and administration of the parish, ensured elderly members of the community living alone were visited frequently and advised visiting priests on the liturgical content of Sunday Masses.

The parish council chairman, Mr Ger Hoey, said: "Neither Bishop Walsh nor we wanted a priest to take over the running of the parish. We are delighted that Father Quinlivan is here. He has great energy, and his presence has given everyone a lift."

He added: "However, we know in our heart and soul that someone of Father Quinlivan's calibre will be needed elsewhere, and in the long term we will be going it alone. But with declining vocations, our laity-led parish can be a model for others where this will occur."

Father Quinlivan, who will continue to teach in Ennis while residing in Killanena, said the diocese had invested huge resources in the parish, adding that it was a misnomer to label the parish priest-less since more priests than ever had been taking an active role in the parish's affairs.

Bishop Walsh yesterday expressed himself extremely happy with the progress made over the year, saying that the parishioners had responded with great generosity to the challenge.

He said the community's contribution "shows that a parish can run effectively without a full-time priest".

A parish council member, Ms Jennie O'Neill, said the parish was content at having a resident priest back. However, she said they were prepared to fight to ensure a resident priest remained in the parish.