Irelands Catholic Church grapples with a severe priest shortage, declining attendance, and potential church closures, particularly in the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore. With only thirteen new seminarians this year, the diocese has eighty-seven priests serving nearly ninety thousand Catholics, averaging one priest per fourteen hundred sixty-four individuals. Factors contributing to this scarcity include secularization and celibacy requirements. The diocese has welcomed foreign priests as a temporary solution, while a growing interest in spirituality among Generation Z offers a potential path forward.
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