HANDLING PRIESTLESS PARISHES

Problem of Handling Priestless Parishes

Problem of Handling Priestless Parishes

"These stayed trustworthy to the educating of the apostles, to the brotherhood to the shattering of baked bread and to the prayers." (Acts 2:42)

Introduction

Parishes are a common practice in Catholic churches which implies a division of a diocese that has its own church and member of the clergy. Parishes came into existence sometime around the 16th century when the Spanish surrendered control of Jamaica to the British and Sir Thomas Modyford divided this Fair Isle into seven different administrative units called parishes. These were located mainly in the south-eastern end of the island.

By the mid 18th century, parishes covered almost the entire land. In 1867, some parishes are merged together and ultimately the island was left with 14 parishes we have today. At the time, apart from religious ceremonies and meetings, parishes also served a great part on account of commerce, socialism, etc.

The oldest enduring parish places of worship in England date to about 670 publicity (Brixworth and Escombe). At that time 3 distinct classes of churches were built; "cathedral" churches, "collegiate" churches, and local churches/private chapels built by individual Anglo-Saxon lords.

The recent parish churches are built in the most populous and ever-growing cities, where the fast-paced urban population called for newer parishes. Most notable in UK is London, where the Great Fire of 1666 destroyed most of the medieval churches.

Parishes: The current situation

In today's world, where there's no time for basic human connections to be build, it is hard for man to keep a connection with the All-Knowing unfortunately. In the modern era where there's religious freedom to practice and exercise, the subsequent crackling of Christian sects and the introduction of more non-Christian religions into England, there are few new parish churches built. As the number of local priests decrease, use of Communion services instead of Eucharistic liturgy will greatly rise above all odds.

The problem of how to provide sacraments in communities that find themselves without a resident priest is a growing problem in much of Western Europe and increasingly in North and South America. Throughout Britain, Catholics living in rural areas have been hit hard by the vocation crisis. Inevitably the small fragile groups have been the first to misplace their priests, but if present tendencies extend, the big-city parishes may shortly be opposite similar problems. The bishops of England and Wales keep telling us this is the "age of the laity," but without priests to minister to us, the future looks austere and depressing.

In the Nottingham diocese, Catholics have spent the last year organizing for a diocesan assembly due to be held this drop at Loughborough University in Leicestershire. Discussions about "working collaboratively" to cope with the ever-declining numbers of clergy will be at the top of the agenda.

This year the Nottingham diocese had no new candidates beginning the process of formation for the priesthood. There were four ordinations last year and five this year, but barring some unexpected change in the method, only four men—at most—will be ...