Pope Francis announces biggest restructuring of the Catholic church in Ireland 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 mean the six dioceses that comprise the Western Province will be 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 Archbishop of Tuam Francis Duffy said the development was “new” but not “sudden” as it has been the subject of discussion for some time.

“It’s really the Catholic Church in the west of Ireland and in Ireland responding to the signs of the times, looking at what we have, our resources, our structures and are these adequate for the situation which we find ourselves and we feel that these changes are important and valuable and will allow us to continue into the 21st century in the west of Ireland in particular, responding to those challenges,” he said.

He told RTÉ News at One that the aim is that “eventually” the diocese will be united and the plan will be progressed in various stages.

There will be further consultation within the diocese, he said.

“What has been announced today is a good news story, I’m very positive about it and very hopeful about it because it is a good sign of the church, particularly in the west of Ireland, responding to the needs of the times, pooling our resources and trying to provide as good a service as we can to

The retirement today of Bishop John Fleming of the diocese of Killala, Co Mayo, 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 earmarked for renewal and outreach to young people in Dublin.

His position in Achonry will be taken 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 to implement the proposed changes, Dr Duffy said: “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 under way.”

This is a reference to the doubling up that is already under way 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 said: “We are called to look beyond existing boundaries.”

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