Most people now feel the effects of the amalgamations or clustering of parishes. Even if our own communities have not been affected we will know ones that have been. Parishioners have faced the upheavals of changes in the times of Sunday Masses.
The main focus of many of the discussions surrounding the joining of parishes has been Sunday Mass provision. Obviously this is important and the faithful need to be able to attend Mass on a Sunday. However one area which has often been missing from these considerations has been the midweek worshiping life of the community. Following reorganisation, many parishes now no longer have a daily Mass which also means that many of our church buildings remain shut and unwelcoming during the week.
