An air of mystery shrouds elements of the Archbishop of Dublin’s ambitious new ‘twin pillar’ strategy for the archdiocese which centres on St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral and St Andrew’s Westland Row – soon to be made a cathedral and minor basilica respectively.
Archbishop Dermot Farrell pegged the two churches as being well placed to be developed as twin pillars “of a renewed pastoral and missionary strategy”. However a well-placed Dublin priest who wished to remain anonymous said there is an uncertainty as to exactly what this will entail in real terms and how it will be achieved – particularly when the prelate mentions that the strategy will also focus on the churches providing a base for “pastoral engagement”.
Unanswered
The Irish Catholic posed many questions to the archdiocese in the days and weeks after the announcement but was met with brief often vague responses, leaving much unanswered. For instance, this paper asked: “In relation to Archbishop Dermot Farrell’s statement on the twin-pillar strategy, he noted: ‘I am now inviting St Mary’s and St Andrew’s to begin to implement the proposals they presented to develop their liturgical and pastoral ministries.’ What were the proposals presented by St Mary’s and St Andrews?”
To which the archdiocese responded: “These proposals include outreach to the inner-city communities, for example through St Andrew’s Resource Centre and perhaps a similar venture on the Northside. The primary purpose of both churches is liturgy and this will be a particular focus going forward.” The primary purpose of most churches is liturgy, so this seems a very evasive answer.
The archdioceses did not respond for a request to see the reports given to them by St Mary’s and St Andrew’s. It also did not respond to a query about where Archbishop Farrell’s forthcoming “substantial financial support” would be coming from in order to “enable necessary structural work to be carried out without adversely affecting other important pastoral needs”. For the archbishop to spend €25million approximately on the Pro Cathedral, without affecting other pastoral needs, means either he’s using the Clonliffe sale money, he has a wonderful benefactor lined up, or the diocese is prepared to get into debt.
Deficit
According to insiders, Dublin diocese is running a two million deficit annually. 40% of parishes are unable to pay as much as would be desired.
The ‘Implementation Group’, chaired by Bishop Paul Dempsey, will also be spearheading the aim “to identify other sources of support for the development of pastoral and cultural programmes, as well as for the conservation of the fabric and artefacts that are of civic importance. The reality is that these very large and important structures will require care and investment irrespective of any change in their status or role”, according to Archbishop Farrell – no doubt referencing the much-needed refurbishment works needed on St Mary’s.
There wasn’t a lot of enthusiasm for the Basilica idea and several said the diocese should focus on one place”
Asked about the cost of the refurbishment of the cathedral-to-be, the archdiocese stated: “At the moment there is no amount projected or allocated for possible upgrades at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral.”
In the archbishop’s homily announcing the strategy he also mentioned the Church being in a “time of poverty”, keeping tight lipped about funding sources for the ‘twin pillars’.
The Archbishop did hold some consultations internally about the future of the Pro-Cathedral. Heads of Office in the Archdiocese were consulted. There wasn’t a lot of enthusiasm for the Basilica idea and several said the diocese should focus on one place.
Neglect
So most if not all of the money raised will go on the Pro-Cathedral its believed, along with the priests residence beside it, which has suffered years of neglect.
Insiders say that just as Gardiner street parish now comes under the remit of the Pro-Cathedral, so will other parishes in the inner city as the religious orders that run them eventually pull back due to manpower issues. Sean McDermot street, run by the Salesians, is seen as one of the parishes next to be integrated with the Pro.
There seems little evidence of an emerging synodality (listening, discussion, hearing) with the clergy and laity of the diocese”
While voices of some clergy, such as Vincentian provincial Paschal Scallon CM writing in this paper on July 18 believe that the city centre should not be abandoned by the Church and we should try to “rebuild the Church, the Communion that is people of God who are called to be the Body of Christ” there seems little evidence of an emerging synodality (listening, discussion, hearing) with the clergy and laity of the diocese of a major pivot in the direction for the diocese towards the city centre, and even less evidence of a willingness to answer the most basic questions of the Catholic media asking on behalf of the clergy and laity.
The mystery of Dublin’s twin pillars…
An air of mystery shrouds elements of the Archbishop of Dublin’s ambitious new ‘twin pillar’ strategy for the archdiocese which centres on St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral and St Andrew’s Westland Row – soon to be made a cathedral and minor basilica respectively.
Archbishop Dermot Farrell pegged the two churches as being well placed to be developed as twin pillars “of a renewed pastoral and missionary strategy”. However a well-placed Dublin priest who wished to remain anonymous said there is an uncertainty as to exactly what this will entail in real terms and how it will be achieved – particularly when the prelate mentions that the strategy will also focus on the churches providing a base for “pastoral engagement”.
Unanswered
The Irish Catholic posed many questions to the archdiocese in the days and weeks after the announcement but was met with brief often vague responses, leaving much unanswered. For instance, this paper asked: “In relation to Archbishop Dermot Farrell’s statement on the twin-pillar strategy, he noted: ‘I am now inviting St Mary’s and St Andrew’s to begin to implement the proposals they presented to develop their liturgical and pastoral ministries.’ What were the proposals presented by St Mary’s and St Andrews?”
To which the archdiocese responded: “These proposals include outreach to the inner-city communities, for example through St Andrew’s Resource Centre and perhaps a similar venture on the Northside. The primary purpose of both churches is liturgy and this will be a particular focus going forward.” The primary purpose of most churches is liturgy, so this seems a very evasive answer.
The archdioceses did not respond for a request to see the reports given to them by St Mary’s and St Andrew’s. It also did not respond to a query about where Archbishop Farrell’s forthcoming “substantial financial support” would be coming from in order to “enable necessary structural work to be carried out without adversely affecting other important pastoral needs”. For the archbishop to spend €25million approximately on the Pro Cathedral, without affecting other pastoral needs, means either he’s using the Clonliffe sale money, he has a wonderful benefactor lined up, or the diocese is prepared to get into debt.
Deficit
According to insiders, Dublin diocese is running a two million deficit annually. 40% of parishes are unable to pay as much as would be desired.
The ‘Implementation Group’, chaired by Bishop Paul Dempsey, will also be spearheading the aim “to identify other sources of support for the development of pastoral and cultural programmes, as well as for the conservation of the fabric and artefacts that are of civic importance. The reality is that these very large and important structures will require care and investment irrespective of any change in their status or role”, according to Archbishop Farrell – no doubt referencing the much-needed refurbishment works needed on St Mary’s.
Asked about the cost of the refurbishment of the cathedral-to-be, the archdiocese stated: “At the moment there is no amount projected or allocated for possible upgrades at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral.”
In the archbishop’s homily announcing the strategy he also mentioned the Church being in a “time of poverty”, keeping tight lipped about funding sources for the ‘twin pillars’.
The Archbishop did hold some consultations internally about the future of the Pro-Cathedral. Heads of Office in the Archdiocese were consulted. There wasn’t a lot of enthusiasm for the Basilica idea and several said the diocese should focus on one place.
Neglect
So most if not all of the money raised will go on the Pro-Cathedral its believed, along with the priests residence beside it, which has suffered years of neglect.
Insiders say that just as Gardiner street parish now comes under the remit of the Pro-Cathedral, so will other parishes in the inner city as the religious orders that run them eventually pull back due to manpower issues. Sean McDermot street, run by the Salesians, is seen as one of the parishes next to be integrated with the Pro.
While voices of some clergy, such as Vincentian provincial Paschal Scallon CM writing in this paper on July 18 believe that the city centre should not be abandoned by the Church and we should try to “rebuild the Church, the Communion that is people of God who are called to be the Body of Christ” there seems little evidence of an emerging synodality (listening, discussion, hearing) with the clergy and laity of the diocese of a major pivot in the direction for the diocese towards the city centre, and even less evidence of a willingness to answer the most basic questions of the Catholic media asking on behalf of the clergy and laity.
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