No priests for five parishes in Kerry, Ireland due to low ordination rates and recent retirements

There are currently no resident priests for five parishes in the Diocese of Kerry in Ireland, according to Kerry's pastoral director, Fr. Ger Godley. Four priests have recently retired due to old age with only one priest waiting to be ordained next year.

According to Irish Central, there is now only one priest under the age of 40 in the diocese of Kerry. A reorganization is taking place to cope with the situation while still dealing with the possibility of a greater shortage of priests in the future.

Dr. Ray Browne, the bishop of Kerry, told the Irish Examiner in July that five priests had died in the past nine months and there are at least three priests dealing with serious illnesses. He shared that parishes in Valentia Island, Allihies, Tarbert Ballyheigue and Duagh are currently without resident priests.

Browne explained that when priests are covering for other parishes, it means that no priest is serving full-time in their respective parishes and the laity will have to take on more responsibility.

Godley said that despite the difficult situation, the lack of priests may lead towards greater lay involvement, as desired by Vatican II. "It is not all doom and gloom. In fact, it is quite a positive story. The emergence of lay people is fantastic. We are starting to do what should have been done in line with Vatican II, a church of the people," he told Irish Central.

Lay ministers are currently keeping the diocese running. Fr. Larry Kelly, parish priest of Cahersiveen, sees lay involvement as a blessing. "I welcome more laity. The laity, committed laity in particular, weren't involved enough before," he said to Irish Central.

The Irish Mirror reported in October 2015 that the lack of priests in Ireland resulted in the cancellation of weekday services and Sunday masses were only held every second weekend.

Anthony Neville of the Association of Catholics told the Irish Mirror, "Weekday masses are disappearing because if there's only one priest who has to travel around three or four churches, plus do funerals, weddings, visiting the sick and administration, it's impossible."

Neville revealed that a high percentage of priests are over 65 with only few seminarians coming in to replace them.