A major new pastoral plan for the Diocese of Cashel and Emly was launched yesterday in Holycross. Titled, Seeds of hope, the plan puts a greater emphasis on co – responsibility between laity and clergy in building the Church of the future in the Archdiocese of Cashel & Emly.
As ‘Seeds of Hope’ states, the Church is changing now and the priest-led Church of the past will need to embrace a partnership approach with people into the future.”
The ‘Seeds of Hope’ plan for the archdiocese, which includes parishes in Tipperary and Limerick, follows a four-year ‘listening process’ – including COVID lock-down interruptions – and addresses key issues facing the Church today.
The plan has been developed across five strands – Faith & Spirituality, Youth & Family, Community Engagement, Participation in Liturgy and Leadership & Co-responsibility.
The Seeds of Hope plan lists the inclusion of women in leadership roles as a priority and acknowledges that that minority groups – from divorced or separated people to LGBT+, migrants and the Travelling Community – should all have a place and feel they belong to the parish faith community. It encourages parishes to proactively welcome minority groups who feel less welcome or who do not feel they belong and plan events that convey hospitality and welcome.
