The Catholic faithful in Angola have a deep love of the Blessed Virgin Mary and profound devotion to her, ACN has reported, adding that the Diocese of Mbanza Congo that is situated in what the foundation refers to as a very impoverished region in the Northwest of the country, still has no shrine.

The Angolan Diocese was the very place in sub-Saharan Africa that witnessed the first ever Christian baptisms and where the first Cathedral was built in 1595, the ACN August 10 report indicates.

The foundation stone for a Diocesan shrine to Our Lady of Victories in the village of Bungo that is part of the Parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Kikudo was laid in 2019, ACN has reported.

However, with the COVID-19 pandemic, and the already existing desperate economic situation in Angola, the construction of the Shrine came to a halt, ACN has reported, adding that the situations in the country tore up their careful financial planning, and the building work had to be suspended indefinitely.

As for the Catholic faithful, already living in poverty before, they were now quite simply unable to help the Church anymore, ACN has reported.

The charity foundation is appealing for financial support towards the construction of the Shrine, saying, We are proposing a contribution of 21,000 to support this project, which we believe will inspire renewed faith, hope, and love in many people. Will you help us?

Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.

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Catholic Charity Rallying for Support to Fund Construction of Marian Shrine in Angola - ACI Africa

There will be no major traffic shifts this week in Johnson County, but drivers can expect to see construction work in Marion and Morgan counties as crews continue on the Interstate 69 project.

Within Johnson County, northbound traffic will shift to new pavement north of State Road 144 as soon as next week, with southbound lanes switching to the new pavement the following week. The State Road 144 bridge over I-69 will open in September, which will eliminate the traffic light currently installed, according to the weekly construction update from the Indiana Department of Transportation.

In Marion County, drivers will see intermittent 20-minute stoppages Tuesday night on State Road 37 as workers install overhead power and communication lines near Epler Avenue. Nightly lane closures will continue on Interstate 465 between State Road 67 and Interstate 65 for median removal and bridgework. The southbound I-65 ramp to westbound I-465 will remain closed as construction crews work on the Carson Avenue overpass, INDOT officials say.

In Morgan County, two overpasses opened at Teeters Road and Myra Lane last week, as Morgan Street and Egbert Road extensions opened west of State Road 37. Temporary driveways for Martinsville First United Methodist Church and Ozark Fisheries will close permanently this week, and State Road 37 will remain restricted to one lane in each direction in the vicinity for temporary driveway removal, paving and striping, INDOT officials say.

Read more:
Heres the latest on I-69 construction in Johnson County - Daily Journal

The next phase of Huron Church Road construction will include rehabilitation work such as repairs to concrete panels and some full lane repairs from Tecumseh to Dorchester Road.

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens and Windsor-Tecumseh MPP Andrew Dowie announced the plans for Huron Church as well as the ongoing construction projects on the E.C. Row Expressway Wednesday.

The city and province partnered to spend more than $12 million to improve Huron Church since 2020. Refurbishing from Malden Road to Pool Avenue was completed in 2020, and from College Avenue to Tecumseh Road was completed last year.

Huron Church is a vital link that not only connects two roads, it connects residents to the United States, our post-secondary schools, and hundreds of businesses in the area, Dilkens said. Given high traffic volumes on the road and because it connects to Canadas busiest trade route, it is imperative that we keep travel along this road safe and efficient. Im excited to see continued infrastructure improvements on Huron Church Road and the E.C. Row Expressway with generous support from the Province of Ontario.

The next phase announced Wednesday will include:

Construction work is also currently underway on E.C. Row. City officials say work repaving the road from Dominion Boulevard to Dougall Avenue has just been completed and work has started on repaving from Huron Church to Dominion.

The city says this represents an investment of about $1 million above the $15.3 million invested in E.C. Row upgrades over the past two years.

Read more:
Next phase of Huron Church construction announced, to include repairs from Tecumseh to Dorchester Road - CTV News Windsor

A Central Texas church that has been working to rebuild following tornado damage in April is now searching for a suspect that stole a trailer from its property.

The First Cedar Valley Baptist Church said on Thursday, July 28, an individual took off with a trailer that was being stored on its property and being used for the church's construction.

"Many of you have heard the saying "Disasters bring out the best in people" and, for the most part, that's accurate," said the church in a Facebook post on Tuesday. "Unfortunately, disasters also tend to bring out the worse in some people, and sadly we've seen that firsthand now."

According to the church, the suspect approached the property on FM-2843 from the I-35 direction.

They turned off their headlights before pulling onto the driveway and used bolt cutters to cut a lock on the trailer before lowering it onto their vehicle, said First Cedar Valley Baptist Church.

"This person was on our property for less than 3 minutes, and took off with something that someone had worked hard for," said the post.

The church said it is asking for anyone who may recognize the truck or the driver to come forward. The truck appears to be a black or dark blue 2009 or newer Ram 1500-2500, with a black grille, fog lights, and running boards, according to the post.

"If you needed to borrow a trailer, you could've just come and asked us, and we'd have had no problem finding one for you to use. If you took it to sell it because you needed the money, a simple phone call or message to us would have been all it took for us to do everything we could to help you.

We understand times are tough, but stealing is not the answer and we will pray that God works on your heart and carries you away from this path. If you wish to return the trailer, please contact us so we can arrange it."

Anyone with information is asked to call the First Cedar Valley Baptist Church at 254-307-7472, contact the Bell County Sheriff's Department at 254-933-5400, or contact Bell County Crime Stoppers at 254-526-TIPS (8477).

More:
Central Texas church recovering from tornado in April and now alleged theft - 25 News KXXV and KRHD

WASHINGTON, D.C. Some border residents and organizations are speaking out against the Biden administration after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security revealed plans to fill in gaps of a border wall to keep migrants out near Yuma, Arizona.

The walls construction began during President Donald Trumps administration.

Its a shame that Biden has continued to carry out the worst of Trumps immigration policies, said the organization RAICES Texas in a July 29 tweet.

DHS announced July 28 that it had approved the construction, saying it was necessary to protect migrants illegally crossing into the country near a dam and who were getting hurt.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas in the announcement said U.S. Customs and Border Protection would take on the project to close four gaps along an incomplete border barrier to address operational impacts, as well as immediate life and safety risks.

But Republican opponents said they believed it was a political ploy to help Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona seem tough on immigration, helping him win in Novembers midterm elections.

Mayorkas in his statement said that the area presents safety and life hazard risks for migrants attempting to cross into the United States where there is a risk of drownings and injuries from falls. This area also poses a life and safety risk to first responders and agents responding to incidents in this area.

The administration received similar blowback when it announced in early July it was doing the same in San Diego at a location called Friendship Park, where people, including many families separated by the border, used to gather before the coronavirus pandemic to touch hands and sometimes hug.

The Biden administration said it was planning to build two 30-foot-high barriers there, also citing safety concerns for migrants and government staff.

Sorry, not buying it, said John Fanestil of the Friends of Friendship Park during an early July Zoom meeting encouraging people to protest construction of the wall.

If they build these walls theyre desecrating this landmark location, said Fanestil. It is arguably the most historic and culturally significant location on the border.

Republicans were quick to attack, reminding the public that as a presidential candidate in August 2020, Biden told a gathering of the National Association of Black Journalists and National Association of Hispanic Journalists that if elected: There will not be another foot of wall constructed (by) my administration.

See the article here:
Biden continues construction along parts of border wall started by Trump - Crux Now

While Clyde was growing up in Perkins County and participating in 4-H and church events, Lorrie(Lorretta) was growing up and participating in 4-H and church events in Butte County.

Clyde was active in the Thunder Butte Valley 4-H Club raising and showing beef and as a member he held several offices. He helped his family host a countywide livestock judging school at their ranch for several years. His family raised Hereford livestock. He and his siblings showed their livestock at the 4-H Achievement Days a few years in the street east of the Legion and static exhibits were shown inside the Legion. They showed livestock a few years on the south east corner of the Perkins County courtyard with static exhibits again in the Legion. Clyde was out of 4-H in 1961 when the first Perkins County Fair and 4-H Achievement Days were started. The livestock was shown at the Perkins County Livestock Yards (West of the Elevator). The static exhibits for 4-H and Open Class filled the gymnasium at the Bison School which helped create a need for a new building at the Fairgrounds.

Lorrie belonged to a 4-H Club in Butte County that only participated in non-animal projects. (She did help her brother get his animals ready for the fair.)They showed static exhibits at the beautiful Fair Grounds West of Nisland, South Dakota where there were dedicated buildings for 4-H and Open class exhibits. The livestock had barns for beef animals and sheep. There were barns for the race horses and chickens too. The grandstand had a cover and the fair board would bring in special entertainment for the Fair. The stage across from the race tracks was for the entertainment and the 4-H Style Show that was before the main entertainment. Lorrie was an active 4-Her participating in judging events locally. She was a top scoring judge in Visual Arts, Clothing and Home Living at State Fair and the Western Jr Livestock Show.

Clyde has lived his entire life on the Hafner Ranch which was started in 1907 and Lorrie joined him in 1968.

Clyde and Lorrie attended the National Western 4-H Roundup in Denver in different years, representing the Lemmon Jr Livestock Show and The Western Jr Home Ec Show. Their son, Terry won a trip representing Lemmon Jr when he was in High school. There son Rick won a scholarship from the Lemmon Jr Livestock Show.

Lorrie helped as a leader for a three 4-H Clubs in Perkins County. She was barely in PC when Pat Kolb asked her to help with her club. Her second club, with Judy Gano, found her helping several young people learn how to sew. Her last club, with Geraldine Peck, did a routine at Mount Rushmore before the evening lighting ceremony. She judged Clothing construction and Visual Arts at surrounding counties and at State Fair.

Lorrie served on the State 4-H Board as well as the State Extension Advisory Board serving as an officer in each group and represented the State at meetings in Washington DC.

Clyde served on the Perkins County Fair Board for a several years while the current grounds were being improved with a livestock shade, the Bentley Building, covered grandstand and improvements on the rodeo arena. Their sons also helped with the building of the Bentley building. Lorrie and Clyde were on the building committee and the kitchen design committee as well as helped design many of the advertising spaces in the building. When the Bentley Building was first built and used, it had no cement floor. The 4-H Horse showmanship class was held inside the building because of rain. Both of their boys showed their horses under cover.

The Hafner family was not afraid to volunteer for jobs that needed to be done so that the Perkins County Fair could be a success. While Clyde was helping put on a rodeo, Lorrie was coordinating the Food Stand to help raise funds to support the Fair.

Their interest in 4-H and community continues on with their grand daughter, Nicole, who was active in 4-H rodeo on a county and state level. She often volunteered to sing the National Anthem at surrounding rodeos. Her love of art won her top ribbons and she is still pursuing interests in her art and photography. She married into another active 4-H family in the Eastern part of the state.

Clyde and Lorrie have been active in their church too through the years, serving as leaders in the church on a conference level and local churches. Their son Terry and his wife started the TNT Steakhouse in Bison during the Fall of 2021.

Read more:
Hafners' are 2022 "Friends of the Fair" - Philip Pioneer Review

Worshippers wait outside as Pope Francis celebrates Mass in St. Joseph Cathedral in Bucharest, Romania, May 31, 2019. Romanian officials have ordered the demolition of the tall office building, at left center, 10 years after a ruling that it was built illegally and endangers the historic landmark. (CNS photo/Remo Casilli, Reuters)

By Jonathan Luxmoore

WARSAW, Poland (CNS) Romanian officials have ordered the demolition of a 20-story office building overshadowing Bucharests Catholic cathedral, 10 years after a ruling that it was built illegally and endangers the historic landmark.

Father Tarciziu-Hristof Serban, spokesman for Romanias Bucharest Archdiocese, called the order a joyful affirmation of the churchs life after all the aggression directed against us. Our archbishop continually deplored the injustice from the beginning, highlighting the perils posed to the cathedral, a cultural, historic and religious monument.

The priest spoke amid preparations for the 246-foot tower to be dismantled under a July 20 order by Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan, who confirmed it was built without a legal permit and endangered the adjoining 19th-century St. Joseph Cathedral.

In a July 29 interview with Catholic News Service, Father Serban said previous mayors had refused to enforce a final, definitive and irrevocable appeal court ruling in 2012, ordering the demolition, adding that Catholics were grateful that a move which should have happened long ago was now finally being taken.

The present mayor is an architect whos long combatted abuses by building firms disfiguring the central panorama of Bucharest, Father Serban told CNS.

Although no further legal steps are possible, the proprietors may still attempt to hamper or delay the demolition, especially since theyre required to finance it themselves.

In 2006 city officials authorized construction of the Cathedral Plaza tower, a project of the Millennium Building Development corporation, but the construction was interrupted by repeated appeals from the Catholic Church, which warned it imperiled the image and structure of the historic cathedral, built 1875-1883 by architects Friedrich Schmidt and Carol Benesch.

Orders to demolish the building, which stands just yards from the Gothic-Romanesque cathedral, were later issued by courts in Dambovita, Ploiesti and Constanta, but ignored by city and company representatives.

Announcing his order on Facebook, Dan said certain administrative steps still had to be taken before demolition could begin, but added he was confident the move would now go ahead after years of prevarication.

Since 2013, the capitals City Hall has been compelled under a final court decision to demolish this building, the mayor explained.

The expenses will be borne initially by the municipality, and then recovered from the buildings owners. Our goal now is for the land to be harmoniously reintegrated into Bucharests urban landscape.

In a website statement, Archbishop Aurel Perca said the mayors order symbolized a return to normality and victory not just for Catholics, but for all citizens of Romania.

He added that the archdiocese was grateful for perseverance by his predecessor, Archbishop Ioan Robu, in the arduous course of justice, as well as for goodwill and solidarity long shown by local Catholics.

This act by the mayor represents an act of historical reparation a crowning moment for efforts by Romanias judiciary, Archbishop Perca said.

It forms part of a series of acts by institutions and authorities of the Romanian state, which have identified legal frauds and the existence of interest groups pressuring local administration with damaging consequences for our historical heritage.

Father Serban said it could take some time to find a specialist firm capable of carrying out the delicate demolition work, given the very narrow space between the office block and cathedral, which was damaged by U.S. and German bombing during World War II.

But the mayor has promised we wont have to wait long, so were praying with gratitude for work to begin, Father Serban told CNS.

This story has been updated.

Originally posted here:
Bucharest Archdiocese Welcomes Order to Demolish Building Near Cathedral - The Tablet Catholic Newspaper

Bloomington, Ind. Numerous infrastructure improvement projects are underway this season to advance community goals, including safety, sustainability, accessibility, equity, economic vitality, and quality of life in Bloomington. The City will provide regular public updates on a range of these improvements as they progress. City departments coordinate with one another, as well as with private developers, to minimize the impact on Bloomington residents and visitors.

PARKS & RECREATION

Southeast Park

The nine-acre park on Sycamore Drive near Moores Pike features a paved trail that connects users to the Renwick Trail as well as all the park amenities. A small portion (about 1,500 square feet) of the pedestrian trail between the parking lot north to the tennis courts has deteriorated, causing accessibility concerns. Contractor E & B Paving has been on site this week to remove the deteriorated area and install new asphalt.

The Waldron, Hill, and Buskirk Park

Repairs to the performance stage columns have begun. The project contractor is deconstructing the existing columns and is working with structural engineers to re-design and construct new columns. Crews will be working in the park through August to complete the work.

UTILITIES

Hidden River Pathway Project

The two-year downtown stormwater infrastructure reconstruction project to address flooding during rain events continues. Last week the contractor, Milestone, began excavating between Trinity Church and Long Fei Restaurant and pouring concrete curbs and sidewalk on 4th St. Rain has delayed paving work this week so Saturday work may be necessary.

Grant will be closed from 4th to Kirkwood and 4th Street will remain closed from Lincoln to Grant. The alley on the east side of Grant, between Trinity and Long Fei, will be closed.The City will continue to coordinate with other construction and road projects as they reconstruct 1,829 feet of culverts to protect downtown area residential and commercial buildings. This project is on track to be finished by the February 2023 deadline.For more information about the project visit bloomington.in.gov/utilities/hidden-river.

Businesses on 4th and Grant are still open as this project continues around them. They welcome customers and taking the time to visit them may afford residents an opportunity to see whats happening with this project. The contractor expects to have one eastbound traffic lane on 4th Street and the south sidewalk opened on August 1st.

Businesses in the impacted area include Siam House, Little Tibet, Burma Garden, Korea Restaurant, Oak, My Thai, DO Asian Fusion, Dat's, B-Town Gyros, Healthy Hoosiers, Bali Cafe, Storm Real Estate, Longfei, Parlor Donuts, Soma Coffeehouse, and Taste of India.

Evergreen Village Stormwater

City of Bloomington Utilities will be doing restoration work on a drainage ditch and detention pond in Evergreen Village, off Susie Street. The ditch grading is now complete and planting native flowers and grasses can begin. Weather permitting, the project will be complete in early August.

PUBLIC WORKS

The Street Division paving finished crews milled N Jefferson Street from E 3rd to E 10th this week. Next week, weather permitting, crews will continue with the resurfacing of N Jefferson Street.

The sidewalk crews completed the installation of ADA-compliant curb ramps on N Jefferson Street from E 3rd to E 10th. Next week, crews will continue with ADA-compliant ramp installation on E 2nd Street from S High Street to S Swain Avenue to prepare for resurfacing.

Engineering

Walnut Traffic Signals

The Citys project to construct new traffic signals at the N Walnut Street intersections of 11th Street and 14th Street is expected to be substantially complete by the end of July. Final work tasks to be completed over the upcoming weeks include installation of pavement markings, power hook-up coordination with Duke, and signal activation. The new signal at 11th Street and Walnut Street was activated on July 25th. This project also includes curb ramp improvements for the pedestrian hybrid beacon crossing of S Walnut Street at the Switchyard Park entrance and B-Link Trail connection. The work at this crossing of S Walnut Street is expected to start this week.

Hopewell Phase 1 East Demo

The City anticipates demolition activities as identified in the Hospital Site Master Plan to start soon at the Hopewell Phase 1 East project site bounded by 2nd Street to the north, 1st Street to the south, B-Line to the east, and Rogers Street to the west. Some activities such as equipment mobilization, and building preparations for demolition may begin this week with tree clearing next week. The project has a significant landscaping plan that includes over 100 trees and the installation of the Citys first silva cell suspended pavement system to increase the life expectancy and health of the trees in the tree grove area. Additional information about the project and the contractor can be found at the following links: https://bton.in/mRp~I, hopewellbloomington.org & renascentinc.com. The Hospital Site Redevelopment Master Plan is available at https://bton.in/mlLbk.

Crosswalk Project

Progress continues on the Citys crosswalk improvement project at the intersections of, 3rd and Grant Streets, 11th Street and Blair Avenue, and Patterson and Isaac Drive. Demolition has begun at all three intersections, and new curbs have been poured at 3rd and Grant. The project requires a short-term full closure of Grant Street just north of 3rd Street to facilitate pavement maintenance and is being coordinated with a water main connection for the adjacent development project (The Annex). Additional information about this project can be found at bloomington.in.gov/engineering/projects/crosswalks.

Neighborhood Greenways

The Citys project to construct traffic calming along E 7th Street, Graham Drive, and Ralston Avenue is substantially complete. Recent highlights include the installation of asphalt speed cushions along Graham and Ralston Avenue. Final work tasks to be completed over the upcoming weeks include final paving on 7th Street, installation of signs and pavement markings, and installation of rectangular rapid flashing beacons at the intersections of Graham at Rogers and Rockport. Additional information about the project and contractor can be found at bloomington.in.gov/engineering/projects/ralstongraham.

The rest is here:
Southeast Park Improves Accessibility; Businesses Around the Hidden River Construction are Open; and Installation of ADA-Compliant Ramps Continues |...

Paul Karanja, the presiding pastor at Kiambaa Church located in South Eldoret, Uasin Gishu county has narrated how they were forced to change its name after the 2007/2008 post-election violence.

Speaking to BBC on Wednesday, August 3, Karanja disclosed that the church became deserted, forcing the administration to rebrand to Kenya Assemblies of God Faith Church.

According to the preacher, the church was initially known as Kenya Assemblies of God Pentecostal. The leaders had to drop Pentecostal and replace it with Faith.

Explaining the reason for changing its name, Karanja maintained that it was meant to erase the bad memories of the 2007 poll skirmishes.

Pastor Paul Karanja speaking to BBC on the rebuilding of Kiambaa Church on Wednesday, August 3, 2022.

BBC

Karanja further detailed that well-wishers built the iron sheet church to promote peace and foster cohesion within the region.

"When I came here in 2012. Everything was extremely complicated. People did not want to be associated with it. Then the Holy Spirit instructed me to change the name to give it a new breath," Karanja explained.

Karanja appealed to political leaders and asked them to tone down as the country heads to the August 9 general election. The pastor reiterated that he has spent over ten years promoting peace and lost glory of the Kiambaa area.

"In the past years, people have been concerned and thinking negatively. But we believe this time round; God will not allow bad things to happen." Karanja explained.

"I'm grateful because people are flocking into the church for prayers as we have built a friendly environment," he added.

One of the congregants, also a survivor of the 2007 ordeal, stated that the bad memories had cleared after the establishment of the church and its subsequent rebranding.

"Old the memories have faded away with the changing of Kiambaa Church name. Right now, we are praying that our God will forgive the perpetrators.

We also hope our leaders will continue preaching peace as we approach elections. We need one another, and our political differences should not make us enemies," she explained.

In March, the Kiambaa Church administration published a poster announcing plans to reconstruct the worship centre.

Church leaders stated that they had faced resistance from a section of political leaders who were opposed to rebuilding the altar, adding that they were determined to bring back to life the church, which was raided and burnt down with worshippers inside on January 1, 2008.

"With God's grace, the rebuilding of the Church began last month and construction is currently underway.

"The committee in charge of the project is asking well-wishers to support the construction by making contributions to KAG Kiambaa project," the church stated.

File photo of Kenya Assemblies of God Faith Church in Kiambaa, Eldoret South

File

violence

Originally posted here:
Kiambaa Church Pastor Narrates How They Were Forced to Change Its Name - Kenyans.co.ke

ONE of Ireland's biggest dioceses has introduced a radical new structure of 'faith-centred communities' in a bid to cope with the challenges of the increased demands facing rapidly ageing clerics and the reduced numbers of young people attending Church ceremonies.

ishop of Cork and Ross, Dr Fintan Gavin, unveiled a new structure which will divide the sprawling diocese into 16 'families of parishes' and aim to increase and enhance the involvement of lay personnel in Church operations in a bid to ease the workload on elderly clerics.

The Diocese of Cork and Ross - one of the largest geographic dioceses in the Irish Church - will celebrate the ordination of one new priest in September.

However, 12 clerics - many aged over 70 years - are scheduled to step-aside from their former responsibilities.

Its 69 parishes will now operate under a streamlined structure of 16 designed areas.

Dr Gavin published a special pastoral letter outlining the radical plan - and the blueprint is now expected to be adopted by other Irish dioceses which are facing similar challenges at parish level.

"It is important to be aware that this picture is not unique to our diocese, but is replicated throughout Ireland, Europe and indeed in most parts of the Western World," he said.

"It is part of a much larger societal change which we cant control.

In fact, the challenges we face are similar to the challenges being faced by big institutions throughout the western world.

"We need to acknowledge these huge changes and the sense of loss we feel for times past. We need to allow ourselves to grieve, acknowledging this loss and the pain associated with it."

The bishop warned that radical new approaches were required to guide the Church into the future.

New structures will come into operation from September across Cork - with 12 'families of parishes' in the first phase.

A key aim will be encouraging young people back into active Church involvement, increasing lay personnel duties and efficiently managing the workload of clerics, many of whom are now elderly.

"People have often said to me: 'You have a very difficult job ahead of you, Bishop.' A system that served well in the past is crumbling," he said.

"In the past, the local community was also the faith community where going to Mass was the place where you met everyone, young and old.

Many parents and grandparents now express sadness that their own children no longer practise their faith or seem interested in Church matters."

Under the new structure, the diocese will have 16 'families of parishes' - and each will be administered by a team of priests.

Each priest will be resident in a particular parish but ministering across the whole family of parishes.

"Bringing parishes together as families of parishes presents an opportunity for much greater lay participation and shared leadership of parishes," he said.

A key aim is to maximise efficiency and ease the workload on ageing clerics.

"Initially, the team will consist of priests but I hope that lay leadership and more involvement will grow in time. It will involve parishes working much more closely together and sharing their gifts, talents and resources including their priests."

Dr Gavin said the new structure was developed following his arrival as bishop in June 2019 and involved multiple visits to individual parishes.

"I got a sense of a very strong faith tradition, built up over many years, of which parish communities were rightly proud," he said.

"Many things are working well in parishes: choirs, altar servers, funeral teams and so much more. Unfortunately, those visits to parishes had to be paused because of the pandemic and could only start again when it was possible to do so safely."

But he said it was clear the Church faced challenges at diocesan level to get greater numbers of young people involved.

"Many lamented the fact that large numbers of our young people are not present in our churches on Sundays. At the recent CONNECT event for young adults, the loudest message of these young adults was how isolated and alone they feel at times at Sunday Mass because most of the people there are much older. The link between our parish schools and our parish faith community is weaker than in the past."

Dr Gavin said that while it was wonderful to see so many young people involved in First Communion and Confirmation ceremonies, it was "disheartening" to see how few then continued to actually participate in the faith.

A further challenge was the rapidly ageing profile of clerics within the Diocese of Cork & Ross as well as other Irish dioceses.

"There is an awareness that our priests are getting older and fewer young men are choosing to become priests, Dr Gavin said.

"This was expressed in the November priests gatherings when we reflected on what was described as the 'predictable future.' Some spoke of the imminent retirement of more priests in an already tight situation which for priests might mean more work, ageing, poor health and a fear of burn-out, a fear of being further stretched."

While Cork & Ross will get one new young priest in September, 12 priests are scheduled to retire.

"While a small number will continue to help out as assistant priests, most have understandably decided they would prefer to retire fully from their appointments, he said.

"In addition, a number of religious provincials are recalling priests to their orders this summer and will not be in a position to replace them.

"Every crisis also brings an opportunity for new possibilities. When we allow ourselves to dream, we can recover hope and the sense of opportunity."

"Priests spoke of a Church where all people are welcomed, cherished, valued, especially the poor, where the role of women is appreciated and valued, and where all are involved in decision making.

"Change is inevitable. Our parish faith communities cannot stand still. Neither can we go back. But how we respond to change can vary a lot.

"This is a radical new start, a new beginning.

"It is not going to be easy and there will be challenges and teething problems but, if we listen to the Holy Spirit working through us, I believe that we can build this Church together."

More here:
Radical overhaul of major diocese announced in plan to help parishes cope with dwindling number of priests - Independent.ie