The Pastoral Plan of the Diocese of Killaloe (2004-2009) ) commits us as Church to doing all we can to enable the Gospel of Christ to reach people in our time and place. It invites each of us to use our gifts and talents, so that we can create communities of faith and hope in our own localities. It reflects on the kind of Church that can best serve us as we move into the future.

The Church of the Future

· The model of Church we are working towards is one in which the dignity and responsibility of all the baptised is recognised.
· As members of Body of Christ we are in communion with each other, and share each others joys and sorrows.
· The new model of Church is one in which priests and laity work together in partnership.
· Each of us in the Church has gifts and abilities, which are not for myself but for the building up of the Church and wider community.
· Parishes must work with neighbouring parishes, to plan how they will provide pastoral care and build Christian community for the future.

Working in Clusters of Parishes

Over the past two years the priests in the nine parishes in West Clare - Carrigaholt, Corraclare, Cross, Doonbeg, Kilmihil, Kilkee, Killimer, Kilmurry Mc Mahnon and Kilrush - have been meeting each week, praying, discussing, planning how best these parishes can work together more closely, towards this new model of Church.

The first fruit of these meetings has been a greater sense of togetherness and trust among the priests themselves. A practical result of these meetings is the new Schedule of Week end Masses which came into operation some months ago.

In devising this new Schedule, the nine parishes were divided into three groups of three - Carrigaholt, Cross and Kilkee, Kilrush, Killimer, & Kilmurry Mc Mahon, & Kilmihil, Corraclare & Doonbeg. The timing of Masses in each of the three groups was adjusted to that if any priest is absent due to illness, holidays or for any other reason, the Masses in that parish can be celebrated by the neighbouring priests.

The Next Steps
The next steps in moving towards a new model of Church will be in areas such as Parish Pastoral Councils, Finance Committees, Liturgy Groups, Adult Faith Formation, increased involvement of Parents in preparing Children for First Communion and Confirmation, Training of Eucharistic Ministers and Readers etc.

You will be aware that some good work has already been done in these areas. However, in order to promote these initiatives in a more organised way, the Diocese of Killaloe, in conjunction with the nine parishes in West Clare, has appointed a full time lay person to work across the nine parishes.

Following public advertisement and a series of interviews, Maureen Kelly from the Quin/Clooney parish has now been appointed to this post. Maureen comes with significant experience of Church Related activities and is professionally qualified in Pastoral Ministry. She has already begun work and will be introducing herself at Masses in the nine parishes over the coming months.

A Message from Bishop Willie Walsh
I am very happy to give my blessing and indeed the full support of the Diocese to this new and imaginative initiative in the nine parishes in the West Clare area. Some see this time as a time of crisis in the Church in Ireland and it would be less than honest to pretend that there are no difficulties. However, I would like to see it also as a time of opportunity - opportunity to look at new ways of being Church where all the baptised - priests, religious and laity - work together in a spirit of co-operation and love.
I pray God's blessing on Maureen, your new pastoral worker, and on all the priests and people of West Clare. May the God of Gentleness be with all of you as you walk hand in hand on your journey in Christian hope.
+ Willie Walsh

Invitation

If you have any ideas or suggestions about anything in these pages or initiatives
you would like to see happening in the West Clare Parishes, feel free to contact Maureen or any of the priests or Pastoral Council Members in your parish.

Maureen can be contacted in a new
Pastoral Office for the West Clare Cluster based in the Youth Centre in Kilrush.

Telephone: 065 906 2565
email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

People from West Clare Cluster

On the right is new Pastoral Worker in the West Clare Cluster, Maureen Kelly, pictured with (from the left) Mary Keane (Kilmurry Mc Mahon), Bernie Dillon (Knockerra) Michael Mc Mahon (Kilrush), Carmel Martin (Cree) and Maureen Finucane (Kilmurry Mc Mahon).