Lay people are taking on priests’ former duties in the country’s largest diocese
New Zealand’s only cardinal, John Dew of Wellington, spoke at the recent World Meeting of Families on “The Future of the Irish Parish: Lessons from Abroad”. He described how his archdiocese has been dealing with the “severe” shortage of priests by appointing lay pastoral leaders.
These leaders are commissioned by the bishop to take on all priestly duties, except those that require an ordained priest, such as celebrating Mass. The programme has been running in Wellington since 2006.
