Parish priests today seldom live in community with other priests, which was normal half a century ago, but live alone while often trying to shoulder the burden of working in a clustered parish of up to three churches.
The ageing demographic suggests that help might be available to them in the growing number of those in their congregations who have retired.
Churches offer such people the chance to be part of a community and also to stay active both mentally and physically.
Priests increasingly rely on lay parishioners, many retired, to help with accounts, to take the Blessed Sacrament to the sick, to organise and run charity events, and to clean and maintain churches and their grounds.
