Running a parish "stressful"

A Northern Ireland based priest has claimed that the stresses and strains of running a parish have caused him to resign as parish priest. 

Limavady’s parish priest, Fr Michael Collins, has announced that he is to retire this year.  Massgoers heard the news on Sunday, when it was explained that Fr Collins would be stepping down in August. 

Speaking to the Northern Constitution this week Fr Collins (74) claimed that he is retiring due to poor health and 'old age'.  He added, "I'm bound to miss a lot of things about Limavady, especially the people, but I won't miss the stress of running a parish.”

“Running a parish is a very difficult and complex operation nowadays, there is so much bureaucracy attached to parochial work now.  The position of parish priest has always been there, but in days gone by the stress was not as heavy as it is now.” 

Fr Collins, has been in Limavady since 1995, and says that he really enjoyed his time in the County Derry based parish. 

He said, "I have been very happy here and the people have been very good to me.  The image of Limavady to the outside world is very misleading, and that is a great shame.  Limavady has a lot of virtues and abilities that are not recognised.”

“The relationships between different religions here and between the different churches is more friendly and relaxed than in most places, yet sadly that is not always the image we see presented in the media.  I have met a lot of friendly people in the parish in the last 15 years and I will undoubtedly miss them all."

Among Fr Collins remarkable achievements while in the parish was the restoration of the 173-year-old St Mary’s Chapel in the town, which was completed last year at the cost of £1 million sterling.

by Sean Ryan