Thursday, May 03, 2012

Carlow Parish Cancels Sunday Mass

There was huge disappointment in a County Carlow parish this week with news that Sunday morning Mass will no longer take place in one of its churches.

Only one Saturday night Mass will now take place at St Fintan's Church in Ballinabranna from June of this year.  

The announcement was made this week by the chairman of Leighlinbridge parish pastoral council who announced that Ballinabranna's only Sunday Mass at 9:30am would no longer take place. 

The decision is been made to ease the burden on parish priest Fr Tom Lalor who has recently returned to the parish four months after serious heart surgery.  

Up until his illness, Fr Lalor celebrated 9:30am Mass in Ballinabranna on a Sunday morning as well as 11:00am Mass in Leighlinbridge. 

Now parishioners in Ballinabranna who wish to attend Sunday Mass will now have to travel to Leighlinbridge or attend the Saturday evening Mass in St Fintans.  

As reported in the Carlow Nationalist paper, Fr Lalor admitted he is sad to see the Sunday Mass go in Ballinabranna but, “it is probably for the best in the long run.” 

“Our clergy numbers are declining; how long we will be able to provide services in parishes is open to question.  Change is inevitable.”

Under the new arrangements Leighlinbridge would also lose its Saturday night Mass and two of its weekday Masses. 

According to Pastoral Council, “The situation is that under the new arrangements Sunday morning and Saturday evening Mass will be provided in the parish.” 

“Traditionally the parish of Leighlin would have had two priests but this is no longer the case and Fr Lalor is carrying a huge workload.”  

They also confirmed that from the first weekend in June the parish will see Masses said in Ballinabranna on Friday night at 7:30pm and at 7:00pm on Saturday while Mass will be said in Leighlinbridge at 11:00am on a Sunday morning.”