Some churches may not have weekly Mass in future years - local priest

A leading local parish priest says some churches may not have a weekly Mass in the future because of declining vocations.

It was announced yesterday the dioceses of Achonry and Elphin are to merge.

Fr Vincent Sherlock, the parish priest of Tubbercurry and Cloonacool, says a sharp drop in vocations is one of the factors.

He says a priest from the Diocese of Achonry hasn’t been ordained in 12 years.

Fr Sherlock says more streamlining may be needed in the future.

You can listen to Fr Sherlock's full interview with Eoghan Murphy here, in which he paid tribute to Paul Dempsey, who is ending his term as Bishop of Achonry to become the Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin.