|
|
Article: Downsizing parishes.(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- Catholic Insight
- Article date:
- September 1, 1999
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 Catholic Insight. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Bathurst, N.B.--The small diocese of Bathurst recently illustrated the difficulties of downsizing parishes. Bishop Andre Richard ordered a halt to the Mass in English in the bilingual parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The reason for the switch to a French-only parish: the shortage of priests (30 priests for 62 parishes).
Some English-language parishioners refused to listen to the bishop and to reason, and insisted on "their" Mass in English despite meetings and explanations and the fact that three neighbouring parishes each have an ...