TUESDAY, JANUARY 4TH 2005.

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My dear Brother Priests,

I welcome you all in a very special way today as my brothers in the priesthood. We all share, through the grace of ordination, in the same Priesthood and Ministry of Jesus Christ. The Second Vatican Council in its teaching in the document: Presbyterorum Ordinis, on the Ministry of Priests states:

" All priests share with the Bishops the one identical priesthood and Ministry of Christ. Consequently the very unity of their consecration and mission requires their hierarchical union with the Order of Bishops.... Bishops, therefore, because of the gift of the Holy Spirit that has been given to priests at their ordination, will regard them as their indispensable helpers and advisers in the ministry and in the task of teaching, sanctifying and shepherding the People of God....On account of this common sharing in the same priesthood and ministry then, Bishops are to regard their priests as brothers and friends and are to take the greatest interest they are capable of in their welfare, both temporal and spiritual...They should be glad to listen to their priests' views and even consult them and hold conference with them about matters that concern the need of pastoral work and the good of the Diocese. But for this to happen, a group or senate of priests should be set up in such a way suited to present-day needs. This group would represent the body of priests and by their advice could effectively help the Bishop in the management of the Diocese" (P.O.n.7).

This teaching of the Second Vatican Council is put very clearly in the Code of Canon Law when dealing with what it calls ' the presbyteral council' or what we call ' the Priests' Council'. "A presbyteral council is to be established in each diocese, that is, a body of priests who are to be like a senate of the Bishop, representing the presbyterate" and it goes on to explain the purpose of the council: "this council is to aid the Bishop in the governance of the diocese according to the norm of law, in order that the pastoral welfare of the portion of the people of God entrusted to him may be promoted as effectively as possible" (C.495. par.1). The expression 'according to the norm of law' is to be understood with reference to the two sources of law which affect the Council of Priests, namely the General Law of the Church, as laid down in the Code of Canon Law, and the particular set of statutes of the Council approved by the diocesan Bishop. The specific Statutes of the Council of Priests of this Diocese of Cloyne were approved by the Bishop in January 2000. .

Canon 500 of the Code of Canon Law defines specifically the confines within which the Council of Priests is to act. "Par 1. It pertains to the diocesan Bishop to convoke the presbyteral council, to preside over it, and to determine the questions to be treated by it or to receive proposals from its members. Par.2. The presbyteral council enjoys only a consultative vote; the bishop is to listen to it in matters of greater moment, but he needs its consent only in cases expressly defined by law. Par.3. The presbyteral council is never able to act without the diocesan bishop who alone can divulge what was determined in keeping with par.2.".

And so, my dear brothers, you have been duly appointed by me as the new Council of Priests for the Diocese of Cloyne. Your appointment has been made in accordance with the norms of the Statutes approved by me for this Diocese. Some of you have already served on the former Council, while others are coming to the task for the first time. I welcome you all and I look forward to availing of your assistance "in the governance of the Diocese". Your term of Office is for four years and you are expected to attend all the Meetings of the Council, unless impeded by a grave cause. It is the Bishop who convenes the Council Meetings, approves the agenda of the specific Meetings and authorises the publication of the Minutes of each Meeting. As the task to which you are now called is a most serious one I, as your Bishop, do require your utmost fidelity to the role you are called upon to play, absolute confidentiality on all matters dealt with at the Council Meetings and fraternal trust among all the members of the Council. There must be no pressure groups among the members nor meetings held, outside of the Council chamber, to discuss matters which pertain to the Council, unless explicitly authorised by the Bishop. The relationship between the Bishop and his Council must be based on absolute trust, with no hidden agendas. The welfare of the Diocese depends on this and great good can be done when, all together, we work fully aware of the fact that the fundamental relationship between the Bishop and priest is based on the Sacrament of Orders, on the fact that they each share in the same Priesthood and Ministry of Jesus Christ.

One of the major pastoral concerns of a Bishop is the welfare of his priests: concern for their spiritual and material welfare, for their on-going formation, for their living conditions, their remuneration and the arrangements to be put in place for their retirement. Over the past four years the Council of Priests has spent significant time dealing with the matter of 'Care of the Priest'. I am most grateful for all the work that has been done in this regard. However, as we begin with a new Council of Priests, I do believe that we must turn our attention to other pastoral concerns, particularly the welfare of the people entrusted to our pastoral care. As the Code of Canon Law states, the purpose of the Council of Priests is to assist the Bishop in the governance of the Diocese "so that the pastoral welfare of that portion of the people of God entrusted to the Bishop may be promoted as effectively as possible".

It is good for me, at this juncture, to remind myself, in your presence, of the Mission Statement I adopted shortly after becoming Bishop of this Diocese. It reads:" In a world where the signs of darkness are evident as:

• economics becomes the new religion;
• the potential of technology for good or evil increases;
• the fabric of society is weakened by threats to the family ,unemployment, violence and communal conflict;
• the Church suffers from scandals, erosion of membership, decline in vocations and other weaknesses

and in a world where the signs of light and life are evident in:

• a growing sense of the brotherhood and sisterhood of mankind;
• a new tolerance and regard for the riches inherent in diverse cultures and faiths;
• the many emerging charisms and the commitment of many people working to build the Christian Community;
• the call to New Evangelisation

  My Mission as Bishop of Cloyne is:
  
  Becoming a close friend of Christ in contemplative prayer and captivated by the deep wonder at human dignity and worth which is at the heart of the Gospel, to continue Christ's mission by proclaiming the Good News, in season and out of season, to all people and especially to the poor and the marginalised.

I will fulfil my mission through....

A new pastoral strategy, based on a collaborative approach to ministry, harnessing the variety of charisms among men and women of
the Christian Community;

• Adopting language, liturgies and devotions relevant to the modern context and in keeping with the norms of the Church, always retaining what is best in the traditional;
• celebrating the Sacraments, especially Confirmation and the Eucharist;
• encouraging, loving and resourcing the priests and catechists of the Diocese;
• promoting peace, reconciliation and healing activity as a bridge-builder whenever there is division;
• paying special attention to the family and young people;
• inspiring a missionary and evangelising Church which reaches out to other Churches in greater need;
• being ready humbly to seek help and advice when I am in need through communion with my fellow Bishops and with the Universal Church, especially with the Vicar of Christ.
  
  Inspired by this mission, to which I have been called by Christ, I shall radiate confidence as I go out to bring to all the Message of Eternal Life.

This is my Mission Statement and I ask this Council of Priests to help me fulfil it. The very first commitment I have made, in the fulfilment of my Mission for the good of the Diocese, is to develop a new pastoral approach ' based on a collaborative approach to ministry'. That means 'harnessing the variety of charisms among men
and women in the Christian Community'. It means to engage in the active promotion of lay ministry in the Church. The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, speaking to the
Bishops of America at the conclusion of their 'ad limina' visit last month spoke to them about their relationship with the lay faithful. Quoting 'Christifideles Laici' he said that "each Bishop is called to acknowledge the essential and irreplaceable role of the laity in the Church's mission and to enable them to carry out their proper apostolate....A clear pastoral priority of each Bishop is to help the lay faithful in understanding and embracing the 'munus regale', the kingly office, they received by their baptismal incorporation into Christ". The Holy Father encouraged the Bishops "to foster among the laity a shared sense of responsibility for the life and mission of the Church which, when rooted in the principles of a sound ecclesiology, will ensure genuine collaboration".

Collaborative ministry does not happen just because people work together or cooperate in some way. It is a gradual and mutual evolution of new patterns, new attitudes and new self-understanding, which will not happen by accident. It must be chosen and consciously pursued from conviction. It will not work if those involved do not really want to do it, or feel it has to be imposed. This growing together in partnership in ministry can cause tensions and indeed much pain between those who are considered the 'professionals' in ministry, that is the ordained ministers, and those who are professionally trained to take their rightful place in the immense pastoral task of caring for God's People. These tensions and pains, these stresses and strains happen when not sufficient consideration is given to the concept of 'communio-communion' within the Church.

The principle of 'Communio' finds its roots in the fundamental relationship between the Three Persons of the Most Holy Trinity. In fact the whole Church is called into, what I would call, Trinitarian relationships. In recent Papal teaching this aspect of the Christian life is very much highlighted. In the document 'Vita Consecrata' the Pope describes consecrated life as "a confession and sign of the Trinity, whose mystery is held up to the Church as the model and source of every form of Christian life"(V.C.21).The document on the Laity, 'Christifideles Laici' points out: "the reality of the Church as communion is the integrating aspect, indeed, the central content of the Divine Plan for the salvation of humanity"(CFL.19) and later, more simply: "the Church knows that the communion received by her as a gift is destined for all people"(CFL.32). The opening paragraph of
'Lumen Gentium' describes the Church as the sign and instrument of communion with God and of unity among all peoples, a 'kind of sacrament'.

' The characteristics of Trinitarian relationships, because they respond to people's deepest needs, do give people hope and energy. When people are recognised, or included, or valued, they see themselves differently. Gestures and signs that include and value people, such as those the Pope often uses, can be very powerful. When communion is lived, then individualism diminishes: people learn to live for each other, to seek the common good rather than adversarial advantage. This is often demanding and painful: it certainly doesn't mean conflict disappears; rather it might mean having the commitment and maturity to see conflict as a way of discovering truth rather than imposing it. But we can only gain from it and so can our witness and mission'.( Address to Episcopal Conference of Ireland by Ms. Pat Jones, Assistant General Secretary, Episcopal Conference of England and Wales. Non.1997) A clear understanding of the Trinitarian relationships which calls forth the genuine living of communion amongst God's People, those who minister and those ministered to, forms the basis for what is necessary in pastoral activity into the future, namely collaborative ministry. 'Some people regard collaborative ministry as an option. Others see it as a necessity, an unavoidable aspect of what the Church essentially is. Some see it as a process of mild evolution, a gentle adjustment of how work is done and others as a radical re-shaping of all that the Church is. The very basis of collaboration, the reality and desire for communion between us because of our sharing in God's own life, demands that we include, accept and value different paces of growth and varying convictions. Ultimately, what matters is that we live in communion in the Church, drawing life from each other in and through our relationship. If the Church is a communion of love, we will be able to build a civilisation of love, communicating to our world through what we are, the deepest truths about persons and society'. ('The Sign we Give' - Bishops' Conference of England and Wales 1995).

My dear brothers, I have laboured this point on the basis for collaborative ministry because I am convinced that it is the only way forward in our pastoral ministry and planning in this Third Millennium of Christianity. If the Church is to be credible in our time, if it is to witness to God's love in the world of today and tomorrow, then it must be seen that all Christians, Bishops, priests, religious and lay-faithful, are fully engaged in ministry according to their call in life. It must not be seen to be a clerical Church or the preserve of those who have consecrated their lives in the priesthood or the religious life. The harnessing of the enormous talents and charisms of our lay-faithful in the life of the Church, at diocesan and parochial levels, should be recognised and developed in collaboration with, and without prejudice to, the ministry of the ordained or consecrated religious. The involvement and commitment of lay men and women in the administrative and pastoral life of a Parish Community, and in the assistance given to the Bishop at Diocesan level, is testimony of a Church which is living out its mandate in establishing a Community which reflects the communion of love to be found, in all its perfection, in the Most Blessed Trinity.

The engagement of the laity in ministry in the Church must be understood as enabling them to play their rightful, and indeed essential, role in the life of the local Christian Community. This engagement may involve the calling into full-time ministry of lay personnel who, besides having the charisms and talents necessary, are also trained in specific fields and skills which make of them expert leaders in the various areas of pastoral activity, so essential to the life of the Church today. Such persons, who are assigned full-time ministry at diocesan or parochial levels, must be treated with due respect as co-ministers with the ordained ministers - the proper state in life of each being respected - and they have an absolute right to justice and freedom in the exercise of their ministry. In any position, in which a lay person, man or woman, is engaged professionally in ministry in the Church, it is the Bishop's responsibility to see to it that he or she is remunerated in accordance with accepted practice, as pertains in the secular world, and is respected as a valued member of the Diocesan or Parochial Team. The vast majority of those laity, who will be involved at parochial or diocesan levels on a voluntary basis, in pastoral ministry are to be cherished and respected as equal members in the parish or diocesan teams and their just expenses are to be covered either from the parish or diocesan finances. This relationship with our treasured laity, whether they be engaged on a voluntary or professional basis, is essential if we are to go forward in the service of God's People, in a collaborative manner. I shall insist on the healthy relationship being promoted, at all levels, in our pastoral service of the faithful of this Diocese and I ask each member of this Priests' Council to give me his personal commitment in this regard.

Given the present challenges which face the Church in Ireland today, it is not possible for the priests alone to carry the burden of the day in the pastoral outreach which is so necessary. For that reason, competent lay-people must be formed, engaged and indeed encouraged to take their rightful place in a parish or diocesan team. The various initiatives already engaged in, in this Diocese of Cloyne, must be supported and enhanced in every way: these include Liturgical Ministry, Catechetical Ministry, Youth Ministry, Adult Education Ministry, Chaplaincy Ministry, Ministry to and Protection of Children and the training of facilitators to ensure that Children are safe, at all times, in all Church-related activities. The recent influx of persons from other lands, cultures and faiths necessitates the understanding, use and full implementation of the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults in every Parish in the Diocese, where persons come forward seeking initiation into the Catholic Community of faith. The full implementation of this Rite will entail the active participation of the lay members of the Christian Community, who will accompany the catechumens on their journey of faith. I request that everyone involved in ministry in the Diocese become conversant with the R.C.I.A. Programme. It is not an option but an imperative, as it is a Rite of the Church promulgated in 1972 by His Holiness, Pope Paul VI, for the very times we live in. This Rite, when adapted, is of immense help also in re-kindling the faith of the lapsed.

Together with other most important issues regarding the Sacred Liturgy, which is at the heart of the Church and of all Evangelisation, I have considered it important to approve the creation of a Commission for Liturgical Formation and I have appointed to full-time ministry in this important field a Diocesan Director of Liturgy. He has been given three years within which to establish, in the Diocese and in every Parish, an effective formation programme in Liturgical Ministry. After the three years the appointment will be reviewed. I wish him to present to this Council of Priests, as soon as possible, the outline of the Liturgical Formation Programme for the Diocese.

In the field of Youth Formation in the Diocese, much has been achieved through the activities of the Cloyne Diocesan Youth Services ( C.D.Y.S.). A presentation of achievements and its ongoing services to the Youth of the Diocese was made to the former Council of Priests. It is my wish that the fullest cooperation be given by all priests to the excellent programme of activities proposed each year by the C.D.Y.S. for the Diocese. Among these activities is the annual encounter of the young people
preparing for Confirmation, in what has become known as ' the Confirmation Forum'. I personally have participated each year in this Forum and have found it most beneficial as the immediate preparation of the young people for the conferring of the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Diocese. I expect every Parish to be actively involved in the preparation for and participation in the Confirmation Forum and I request the fullest cooperation of all concerned for the successful outcome of the Forum Day.

Another initiative, which I have enthusiastically encouraged over the years, is the work being done in the field of Continuing Adult Education. This, together with the Pastoral Core Groups, the setting up of which I approved in June 1992 and which have borne significant fruit, not only in this Diocese but also in neighbouring Dioceses to which they have been invited, must continue to have all the support we can give. Work in this field paves the way for the establishment of Parish Pastoral Councils, which are so necessary if we are to build pastorally for the future.

Much time and energy has been spent in trying to cope with the crisis which has afflicted the Church, in recent times, in regard to the scandals of child sexual abuse. In this Diocese a process of listening and learning has been engaged in through a pilot programme which has now led to the formation of a Diocesan Child Protection Committee. This Diocese is one of four Dioceses which has engaged in a Pilot Project for the whole Country and it now has its own Child Protection Committee, made up of Priests, Religious and laity. We are also at the final stages of forming an interdiocesan Case Management Committee, jointly with the Diocese of Limerick. The activities of these Committees will see to the full implementation of the recommendations which will shortly issue from the Lynott Commission, set up by the Episcopal Conference of Ireland to guide us in the way forward to the establishment a safe environment in all Church related activities, where children are involved. At the heart of the programme for Child Protection is the Child and the necessary training of facilitators for protection of the Child is now in course. I have appointed, within the Diocesan Child Protection Committee, a full-time Coordinator for the Training of all persons, who are involved in ministry with children. To date more than 150 persons in the Diocese -priests, religious and laity - have been trained. I shall ask the Chairperson of the Diocesan Child Protection Committee, together with all the Members of the Committee, to meet with this Council so as to inform it of the role it is to play. During that presentation the overall Coordinator of the Training Programme will also present the programme he is implementing in the Diocese. We can now look forward to a much healthier and more secure environment in Church related activities, as we journey together in faith, with our young people and their parents, into the future.

Recently, following on the presentation made to the Episcopal Conference in October last, there was presented to a representative group of priests, religious, teachers and parents in Mallow, a pastoral programme which engages parents, teachers and priests in the preparation of children for the reception of the Sacraments of First Confession, First Communion and Confirmation. The programme, presented at my request and under the auspices of the Diocesan Advisers for Religious Education, is entitled: " Do this in Memory..." I wish to see this programme promoted and used in every Parish of the Diocese, as it underlines the necessary pastoral links between the Parish and the School in the Sacramental preparation of children.

During the past number of years various encounters have been had, at diocesan level, in order to identify the way forward, as Diocese, into the Third Millennium of Faith. In October 1998 there was held, in Blarney, a Priests' Day with the Theme: "Towards
affirming our Priestly life", in which we worked together towards a shared vision for the Diocese of Cloyne in the New Millennium. Cluster Meetings were held beforehand in preparation for that day and one expression, which I remember very well and which came from those cluster meetings, was: "Joy of working in partnership with lay people". That Priests' Day was followed up, in the spring of 2002, by a meeting in Mallow of all those involved in the various diocesan ministries - priests, religious and laity together - and the Theme of that Meeting was that given to us by the Holy Father in His Apostolic Letter "Novo Millennio Ineunte" at the beginning of the New Millennium, 'Duc in Altum - launch out into the deep for a catch'. The findings of that day of Review of Diocesan Ministries was discussed at a subsequent Meeting of the Council of Priests and a sub-committee was set up to bring forward appropriate proposals which could form the basis for Pastoral Planning in the Diocese. I wish this Council of Priests to actively pursue and bring to completion the fruits of that day of diocesan reflection on ministry so that I can act upon it.

A further project which I would wish to see continued and completed, for the good of the whole Diocese, is that of the drawing up of a Diocesan Pastoral Directory. Much valuable work has already been done and has already been published. I request that the work be continued so that a veritable Pastoral 'Vademecum' be produced for the benefit of all engaged in pastoral ministry in the Diocese.

In the many pastoral tasks that lie ahead for all of us working collaboratively together for the good of the Diocese - tasks such as outreach to the marginalised and the underprivileged, care for families, pastoral initiatives towards the lapsed and those living in irregular situations vis-a-vis the Sacramental life of the Church - there is one serious problem which causes us all great worry. It is the continuing incidence of suicide in our society, especially among the young. This problem is also linked to that of the use of drugs and the abuse of alcohol. Indeed, one parish in our diocese has been highlighted nationally as having the greatest incidence of suicide in the Country. This is a pastoral problem which involves all of us together and it is incumbent on us, in our pastoral planning, to address the root causes of it and together to seek pastoral solutions for it. The Irish Bishops' Conference issued an excellent Pastoral Letter for the Day for Life, on the 3rd of October 2004, entitled: "Life is for Living. A Reflection on Suicide". That Pastoral Letter was acclaimed by the secular Media as a significant contribution towards understanding the problem and seeking ways of stemming it. I wish this Council of Priests to take that Pastoral Letter and make of it the basis for a Seminar to be arranged, with the contribution of experts in the field, so that we, as Church, may walk the journey of Christian solidarity and love with those who may be driven to take this deadly path, by the pressures and tensions of modern living, and also reach out to those who have been bereaved by such a tragedy in their families.

My dear brother Priests, as I come to the conclusion of this my inaugural address to you, the New Council of Priests, and through you to the whole Diocese of Cloyne, I cannot but mention the fact that we are currently celebrating a special Year of the Eucharist. The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, wrote a special Apostolic Letter to the whole Church entitled "Mane nobiscum, Domine - Stay with us, Lord", thus inaugurating a Year of special celebration of, devotion to and contemplation of the Mystery of the Eucharist, which is at the Heart of the Church. In His Letter he asks:

" This Year let us celebrate, with particular devotion, the Solemnity of
' Corpus Christi', with its traditional procession. Our faith in the God who took flesh in order to become our companion along the way needs to be everywhere proclaimed, especially in our streets and homes, as an expression of our grateful love and as an inexhaustible source of blessings" (N. 18).

Having spoken earlier about the importance of 'Communio' in the life and pastoral activity of this Diocesan Church, what the Holy Father writes in this current Apostolic Letter is very much to the point:

" The Eucharist is both the source of ecclesial unity and its greatest manifestation. The Eucharist is an epiphany of communion. For this reason the Church sets conditions for full participation in the celebration of the Eucharist. These various limitations ought to make us ever more conscious of the demands made by the communion which Jesus asks of us. It is a hierarchical communion, based on the awareness of a variety of roles and ministries, as is seen by the reference to the Pope and the Diocesan Bishop in the Eucharistic Prayer. It is a fraternal communion, cultivated by a 'spirituality of communion' which fosters reciprocal openness, affection, understanding and forgiveness" ( N. 21).

The Holy Father lays much stress on the celebration of the Sunday Mass and its significant place in the pastoral life of the Christian Community. He writes:

"During this Year of Grace, priests in their pastoral ministry should be even more attentive to Sunday Mass as the celebration which brings together the entire Parish Community, with the participation of different groups, movements and associations". (N. 23).

Can I not read into that statement a pastoral challenge to all of us to look again at the number of our Sunday Masses in our Parishes which, rather than bringing together our Parish Communities, may tend to fragment them? Sunday Masses which accommodate only a small portion of the Parish Community and which have been kept on only because traditionally they have been celebrated at that specific time, may not serve the pastoral initiative of 'communio'. This is a question which must be looked at when dealing with the matter of pastoral formation in Liturgy. It would be wrong to think that the reduction of the number of Sunday Masses should only come about as a result of the falling number of priests. There is a very fundamental pastoral reason for review in this regard.

The Holy Father, in concluding His Pastoral Letter states:

"If the only result of this Year were the revival in all Christian Communities of the celebration of Sunday Mass and an increase in Eucharistic worship outside Mass, this Year of Grace would be abundantly successful"(29).

My dear brothers, I have sent to each one of you a copy of the Apostolic Letter of the Holy Father and a copy of the accompanying document from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, concerning suggestions and proposals for the celebration of this Year of the Eucharist. It is my wish that, in every Parish and in the Diocese, pastoral initiatives be taken so that, in the words of the Pope:


" In this Year of Grace, sustained by Mary, the Church may discover new enthusiasm for her mission and come to acknowledge ever more fully that the Eucharist is the source and summit of her life"(N. 31).

I have put much thought and prayer into this address, my dear Brothers. I commend it to you. I look forward to working with you for the next four years in building up the Body of Christ, His People, as a Community of love and service in this Diocese of Cloyne. May we work together in promoting a truly collaborative approach to the task ahead and may the Lord ever guide and protect us, as we all labour in His Vineyard for the spreading of His Kingdom.

A very Happy and Blessed New Year of the Lord be yours and be with all who are dear to you. Thank you!

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