Rt Rev Ambrose Griffiths
Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle
At first sight yearly statistics suggest that the Catholic Church in England
and Wales is in decline but in fact they hide a golden opportunity for
renewal and eventual growth. We are moving from a church that had an
exceptionally high proportion of priests to people to far more involvement
of lay people. And although fewer people now attend church most do so out of
deep faith and commitment rather than traditional custom, habit or duty.
Sharing Priests
Not so long ago most parishes had one or more curates and some priests
taught in schools or filled many of the administrative offices. Today quite
a number of priests are responsible for two smaller parishes, which works
quite well. But this is much more difficult when the parishes concerned are
larger. And the prospect of being asked to take over two parishes instead of
one, as one gets older, is clearly demoralising. A more radical solution is
required and we have begun to group from three to seven parishes together
and make a group of priests collectively responsible for them with one of
their number as leader. Initially there will be nearly as many priests as
parishes and most of them will live separately in parish houses but come
together for two or three meals a week. The whole emphasis is on the priests
working closely together as partners, both with each other and with the lay
people. Eventually groups of priests may learn to live, pray and work
together in a single house and so enjoy more companionship and mutual
support.
As the number of priests available decreases, the loss will be shared by all
the parishes in the group. People will have got to know all the priests in
the group so the sense of loss will not be as great - rather as when one
doctor retires from a medical centre. The leader will usually be a younger
and more energetic person who will be able to undertake much of the hassle
and administration with the assistance of some paid lay help. This will
enable older priests to form part of the team without undue stress because
they will be able to concentrate on pastoral work. And indeed it will also
give scope for priests who have retired as parish priests but who wish to
continue in some of the pastoral work that they love. Several retired
priests are already living in otherwise unoccupied presbyteries and working
in this way. It is of course important to make clear that they have no
obligations, but that anything they choose to do will be most welcome. They
must always be regarded as a valuable bonus and never be counted on in
forming any pastoral plan. At the end of the day it is not the number of
priests that counts but their quality and holiness, which has led to more
careful selection and stringent testing of candidates for initial training.
Involving lay people
In the past lay people had little opportunity for taking initiatives and
were usually limited to helping the priest with his schemes. But now their
skill, expertise and experience is generally welcomed and can greatly enrich
the life of the Church. Most parishes have a pastoral council which shares
with the priest responsibility for the spiritual welfare and growth of the
parish, as well as a finance committee which usually deals very competently
with all financial and maintenance concerns and relieves the priest of much
time and worry. Although these groups are only consultative any wise priests
allows them to exercise real responsibility.
On the pastoral side many lay people are trained as ministers of the Word
and Holy Communion and both visit the sick and housebound and hold services
of the Word and Holy Communion in the absence of a priest on weekdays and
occasionally on Sundays. Others are trained as catechists, evangelists and
so on. In a few cases families have replaced the priest in a presbytery and
provide a reference point for the parish and do much valuable organising. In
time we shall employ a small number of trained pastoral assistants to
support the invaluable work of volunteers. And some lay people already hold
posts as chaplains in schools, hospitals or prisons and work with seafarers.
On a diocesan scale lay people have a voice on a Council of Laity of
about 45 elected members from all over the diocese and a smaller Diocesan
Pastoral Council which brings together priests, religious and lay people as
more of a working party to get things done.
Attracting young people
It is hardly surprising that young people today have a much longer and more
complex journey of faith than in the past when society was simpler and more
stable. They face many more counter attractions and other possibilities than
in the past and need to develop a deep personal faith to survive in a very
secular society. Faith schools make a valuable contribution, but they can be
greatly helped by the peer ministry of young people who have already come to
know the Lord. Some work in mission teams, which proclaim the Gospel, others
serve as chaplains in schools and often organise day and residential
retreats away from school in which they are guided by other young people to
face the deep questions of life. Many young people have great generosity and
idealism and if guided and encouraged have the potential to renew the Church
and society.
Hope for the future
All this and much else is an evolving situation which has really only begun
but gives promise of a renewed, vigorous and more Christ-like Church in the
future. Much depends on the leaders of the Church, both priests and bishops,
being ready to listen, to accept people's ideas and to encourage them to
develop in ways which may go far beyond anything they might have come up
with themselves. There is no place in the Church today for dominant,
inflexible clergy or lay people. We have all to learn anew the fundamental
lesson of humble, mutual service for the common good taught us by Christ but
which even the apostles found so difficult.
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