The last ordination to the priesthood in the Diocese of Achonry was 2013. The diocese currently has no student studying for the priesthood. That’s been outlined by the Bishop of Achonry Paul Demsey in his Pastoral Letter “A time of Crisis in a time of the Spirit.
There are twenty-three parishes in the diocese spread across counties Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo.
The Bishop goes on to state that the age profile of priests is increasing. “Up to last year (2022), the diocese had a resident priest in every parish, however, this has now changed, and sadly we will no longer be able to provide a resident priest in each parish. This will escalate in the near future as the statistics show, at best, there will be twelve priests serving in the twenty-three parishes of our diocese in ten years’ time.
It is important that we are fully aware of this reality and its implications.
We have never been here before”, Bishop Dempsey explained.
