Dublin’s new archbishop, Dermot Farrell, talks about his priorities for the archdiocese and his appointment at a time when the Covid-19 pandemic has affected so many lives across Ireland.
By Lydia O’Kane
Dublin’s new archbishop, Dermot Farrell, was sworn in Tuesday morning at St Mary’s Pro Cathedral in the capital of Ireland.
The main celebrant was Archbishop Farrell, joined by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin and Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo, Apostolic Nuncio in Ireland.
The former bishop of Ossory, in eastern Ireland, takes over the reign of the Archdiocese in the midst of a global pandemic during which Ireland saw an increase in cases – and tragically, in the number of victims.
He also takes on this role, as the Church in Ireland faces a number of challenges, including a decline in vocations, elderly priests, a decline in mass attendance and an increasingly secular country.
In an extensive interview with Vatican Radio before its installation, Archbishop Farrell addressed many of these issues and highlighted his main priorities as head of the archdiocese.
He began by talking about his surprise at being appointed archbishop of Dublin.
“Nobody was more surprised than I was when I was invited by Pope Francis to move to Dublin. It was a little surreal at the time, but when asked, he said that it is something that Pope Francis wants and is part of a process of discernment, ”he said.
Current challenges
The decline in vocations and the corresponding increase in the number of elderly priests are just some of the challenges facing the Church today in Ireland. Asked whether these challenges are frightening, the Archbishop said that there are indeed challenges in the Archdiocese and in the country as a whole, but that they can also be seen as opportunities.
“It can be an engine to drive a certain reform that is somewhat delayed in terms of the number of churches and parishes we have, because there are big changes, say, in parts of the Archdiocese where there is a very low Catholic population now,” he explained. ” There is an opportunity there, he added, to be a missionary Church, and “any planning for the future needs to articulate the steps and steps necessary to develop ways to achieve”. The archbishop also noted that the pandemic accelerated the challenges, rather than causing them.
Key priorities
Defining his main priorities for the archdiocese, Archbishop Farrell emphasized that evangelization must be one of the key areas in parishes. Faith needs to be “a living faith in these communities,” he said.
The Archbishop also pointed out that younger generations – under 50 years of age – are increasingly less inclined to be part of a parish and religious groups. “When that happens, several generations disconnect from the faith.” However, he said, there is an opportunity for young parents to reconnect to the faith when their children begin receiving the sacraments and it is important that the Church is present for those who have a cultural attachment to the faith, rather than a commitment.
Safeguard
Addressing the issue of safeguarding the Irish Church, especially in Dublin, Archbishop Farrell described his predecessor’s leadership as “courageous”. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, he said, “came to Dublin at a very difficult time … he established very good structures in the diocese”.
The new archbishop pointed out that under his leadership, child protection will remain a focal point, saying that “complacency is often the cause of death in relation to protection … because over time people forget”. He went on to say that the abuse that happened in the past can never happen again.
Homes for mothers and babies
Just over two weeks ago, an Irish Commission of Inquiry published a new report on Houses of mothers and babies in the Republic of Ireland, which found that between the 1920s and 1990s, thousands of children died in these houses, administered mainly by the Catholic Church .
Speaking about the findings, Archbishop Farrell said, “It helped to shed light on what happened to vulnerable women and children inside the walls of these houses, but also outside the walls of these houses.” He also stressed that those responsible must be held accountable.
“Religious orders and some individuals have failed in some sense to reflect the values of the Gospel that we stand for and still stand for,” and at the end of the day, “we lost sight of the child’s gift,” he said.
He described how “part of the life of faith in these places became sterile, and many lived in the shadows of what could be described, at best, as a kind of very dark or gray world. And this is a different life from the one we recognize as the full life of God that is offered to each person – man, woman and child – who are made in the image and likeness of God.
Pandemic of the covid
Like many countries, Ireland is battling the coronavirus pandemic. In the past few weeks, this island country has seen a significant increase in cases and deaths from the virus, which has led to a total blockade, with only essential stores open and religious services again online.
The archbishop said: “What the pandemic has brought to us is the value of life in all its phases, from beginning to end”. He also acknowledged the plight of many people who have lost loved ones and who cannot even visit patients in the hospital due to current restrictions.
Hopes for Dublin
Asked what kind of Dublin he would like to see, Archbishop Farrell said that, from the Church’s point of view, he would like to see a parish renewal sustained by hope and joy.
He also spoke of the importance of the “good liturgy”, which has the capacity to elevate people. Another area that the Archbishop highlighted was the issue of vocations, which he said needed to be increased, along with an effort to involve more lay people.
“Sometimes we forget that there are many women, lay and religious, who are a necessary and vibrant part of the living Church. Therefore, we need to take advantage of all these people who are willing to get involved in the parish and create the opportunities for them to get involved ”.
This article has been updated