Bishop vacancy delays plan for Friary's future

No decision on the future of the Franciscan Friary church in Athlone is expected to be made in the near future, due to the fact that there is no bishop in place in the Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois at present.

In an announcement which shocked the area last week, the Franciscan community said it would be withdrawing from Athlone in January due to its reduced and ageing population of priests.

Speaking to the Westmeath Independent on Monday of this week, Fr Gabriel Kinahan, who has been Guardian of the Franciscan community in Athlone for nearly nine years, acknowledged that many people were "still reeling" from the news announced after Mass on Tuesday, October 18.

He reiterated, however, that no decision had been made about the future of the church building itself, and said it was unlikely anything would be decided in this regard until after a new bishop was in place.

"At the moment, no real decision has been made about the future of the church. The only definite decision is that the friars have to move out.

“The diocese doesn’t have a bishop at the moment and, before any decision is made, our provincial (Fr Aidan McGrath) would like to engage with the bishop as to the future of the church.”

The Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois has been without a bishop for almost a year now, since Bishop Francis Duffy was installed as the Archbishop of Tuam.

The role of Papal Nuncio to the Catholic Church in Ireland is also vacant at present and it's understood that a new nuncio may have to be put in place before a bishop is appointed to the local diocese.

Fr Gabriel said it was his hope was that a plan could be prepared which would allow the Friary church building to remain open.

"All we want is a viable plan for it, and that’s one reason we want to talk to the new bishop when he’s appointed. He might have some ideas," said Fr Gabriel.

"The last thing in the world that we want to do is close a church that means so much to people. It’s not an old church, and the fabric of it is in excellent condition."

He pointed out that the church was only opened and consecrated in 1932, and there were current members of the congregation whose parents had been involved in fundraising for its construction.

"It's a church that means so much to so many people, and not just in the town and surrounds. From Ferbane, Roscommon, and up into Longford we would have people coming to Mass and confessions here, so that's a huge catchment area of people."

He added that his own mother, Kathleen, who is 101 years old, used to cycle from Moyvoughley to Athlone for confession in the Friary.

Last week's decision was ultimately a consequence of the shortage of vocations over recent decades, Fr Gabriel explained.

The last ordination to take place in the Friary was that of Athlone native Fr Padraig Breheny, who was 48 years of age when he was welcomed into the Franciscan order in 2006.

Fr Gabriel said there had been six men living in the Friary a month ago, including Brother Salvador, who is 97.

"In terms of the age profile, if you exclude myself from it, the next youngest is nearly 80," said Fr Gabriel.

He added that one friar, who is 86, had recently gone from Athlone to Rossnowlagh, in Donegal, to help out because of a shortage of personnel there.

"In terms of manpower, we're in a bad way," he commented.

The outpouring of shock and sadness at last week's news was an indication of the high regard in which the Franciscans are held in Athlone, and Fr Gabriel said the friars had long been mindful of the support received from the community.

"People are incredibly generous, and I emphasised last Tuesday that this had nothing to do with 'balancing the books'. This was about elderly friars and how to care for them.

"We were always conscious of how supportive and how generous the townspeople have been to the friars over the years. That makes this even more painful."

The Franciscan community is due to officially conclude its work in Athlone on January 6 next, and a Mass of thanksgiving is scheduled to take place in the Friary church on January 8.

However, Fr Gabriel said the "shutters won't be coming down the next day" after the thanksgiving Mass.

"It could be months before anything happens," he said.

Local representatives are among those who have expressed their dismay at the news that the Franciscans are to leave Athlone.

Cllr Frankie Keena said this had been a "heartbreaking" development for many.

"Personally, I am just devastated with this news. I would like to sincerely thank the Franciscan friars for their 800 years of service to the people of Athlone and indeed the present friars and their excellent staff," he said.

Cllr Keena said he would be raising a motion at the next meeting of the Athlone Moate Municipal District which would ask for an 'Address of Recognition' to be bestowed on the Franciscan friars to thank them for all of their work in Athlone.

Cllr Aengus O'Rourke, said he was "saddened and numb" when the news emerged last week.

"Athlone will be a very sad town come January, when the six remaining Franciscan friars leave Athlone for the last time to take up residence elsewhere in Ireland and the beautiful Friary church falls silent," said Cllr O'Rourke.