tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807826652341078989.post8156690205772892826..comments2023-11-24T06:43:02.286+00:00Comments on Aspicientes in Jesum: Closing churchesPastor in Montehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05949810648656544072noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807826652341078989.post-79047154914095424002017-02-26T15:09:53.480+00:002017-02-26T15:09:53.480+00:00Sadly a closure was announced from the pulpit toda...Sadly a closure was announced from the pulpit today and I think a merger although from where I was sitting I was not able to hear all the details. So far I have seen nothing on the blogosphere - not even the A & B blog - but as it was a message from our Bishop I presume this is true.Pelerinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14243859145007696053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807826652341078989.post-19749138419656127802016-11-10T04:22:33.768+00:002016-11-10T04:22:33.768+00:00In the US, there are indeed now many dioceses set ...In the US, there are indeed now many dioceses set up as you suggest, where parish property tends to be owned by the parish, rather than the diocese. When the scandal settlements began to hit in the early 2000s, a number of dioceses (run by astute bishops) converted to this model to protect themselves. A great many of the dioceses that did not do this had enormous judgments levied against them by hostile courts, and several of them did in fact face bankruptcy as a result.datahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14878573057329703201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807826652341078989.post-39744495125969876842016-10-23T08:35:23.114+01:002016-10-23T08:35:23.114+01:00Thanks for the correction, Fr Jason.Thanks for the correction, Fr Jason.Pastor in Montehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05949810648656544072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807826652341078989.post-20288495360568225742016-10-23T07:49:46.497+01:002016-10-23T07:49:46.497+01:00The Diocese of Menevia is not undergoing a cull as...The Diocese of Menevia is not undergoing a cull as you suggest. You must be mistaken with the most northern Diocese of Wales that of Wrexham where 22 churches are due for closure. Whilst it is true that the present church building at Aberystwyth is closed and the highest authorities in Rome approved and supported the decision of the Bishop and Trustees of the Diocese, money is is now spending to refurbish a previously closed Church in the Aberystwyth parish- Penparcau The Welsh martyrs, and this will be re-opened in time for Christmas. Fr Jasonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807826652341078989.post-21952669513543541292016-10-16T03:19:47.899+01:002016-10-16T03:19:47.899+01:00Father, I'm glad to hear from you, and hope yo...Father, I'm glad to hear from you, and hope you're well. God bless you.Romulushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17734318488290892002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807826652341078989.post-25288639061589948352016-10-13T21:26:26.656+01:002016-10-13T21:26:26.656+01:00The staff list at Oscott seminary is bewildering. ...The staff list at Oscott seminary is bewildering. Why not send these men to Valladolid? A rector and assistant plus a couple of retired priests as confessors. Sell off these old seminaries instead of shutting down parishes for the money. Spain together with the two in Rome should be enough.Sadie Vacantisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04823532366874114366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807826652341078989.post-84868477358366431142016-10-13T20:17:58.655+01:002016-10-13T20:17:58.655+01:00I think that the church referred to in Aberystwyth...I think that the church referred to in Aberystwyth was the one I attended from 1965 to 1968 while an undergraduate at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, as it then was (now the University of Aberystwyth). At the time the total student population was only about 1,000. I understand that it is much higher now. Our chaplain was the late Fr John Fitzgerald, a Carmelite friar and priest of Irish parentage, brought up in England, who learned Welsh and became a prominent figure in Welsh literary circles. Sorry to hear that this church has been closed. If it is any consolation, this concrete monstrosity in Glasgow was recently closed and demolished.<br />https://www.flickr.com/photos/nicholasvaughanroberts/sets/72157626289225447/Highland Cathedralhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07519428794618769856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807826652341078989.post-22083062768078660832016-10-13T14:37:43.738+01:002016-10-13T14:37:43.738+01:00At least in France the pre-Revolutionary churches ...At least in France the pre-Revolutionary churches are in the ownership of the local commune, even if they do only get Mass once or twice a year, and so are outside the clutches of diocesan bureaucrats.motupropriohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06261356560114077508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807826652341078989.post-947956573366631322016-10-13T10:49:29.081+01:002016-10-13T10:49:29.081+01:00Welcome back Father! I was only wondering the othe...Welcome back Father! I was only wondering the other day whether you were going to return but presumed you no longer had the time in your new parish and I had no right to ask.<br /><br />However your first post is gloomy is it not? It must be devastating for parishioners when they learn of the closure of their church because of the shortage of Priests. <br /><br />What I find difficult to understand is why these closures seem to be occurring in rural areas leaving those without transport without a church whereas in towns like mine there are at least six churches all with resident Priests. Public transport locally is a bit sparse on a Sunday but it is not impossible and I could get to any of these by one or two buses if it were necessary. Of course everyone would want 'their' own church to be the one retained but if it were explained that by shrinking the number of active Priests in the town this would help keep open a church elsewhere then surely we would all understand?<br /><br />When I read of some rural churches in France only having one Mass a year and then enter a church in Paris and see that there are seven Priests listed there despite the fact that another church is only a short walk away, it makes me wonder why they cannot be shared out more.<br /><br />Some years ago I remember reading that there were proposals in the diocese to link churches together having two Priests to run three parishes here. My own territorial parish, together with the church where I attend Sunday Mass (being on a bus route) and one other were going to be linked under two Priests but I have seen no more about this.<br /><br />Pelerinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14243859145007696053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4807826652341078989.post-78451000782180047392016-10-13T10:20:36.410+01:002016-10-13T10:20:36.410+01:00Yes, this will be an ever more biting problem for ...Yes, this will be an ever more biting problem for the Western Church. Any solution proferred is likely to be short term unless the underlying issue of infidelity is dealt with. The fact that generations of Catholics have rejected the Church's teaching on contraception and chosen smaller families (not without social and economic pressures to do so) have meant a decrease in the number of young Catholics and more to the point in vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Add to that poor cathechesis and formation and one gets a Catholic people who are less Catholic by the decade. In the 19th Century at least the Catholic people, like most of their fellow Christians abhorred even the idea of contracepting (apart from the lack of reliable means to do so) but now it is taken as a good. There needs to be a reappropriation of this very much despised part of the Church's teaching if we are to recover. Perhaps only the direct intervention of the Lord will achieve that now. Thanks for returning to the blogosphere!Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09140244586477682905noreply@blogger.com