Members of the Travelling community in Kerry feel they are not always welcome or respected in the Catholic Church community because, they believe, ministries and decision making options are closed to them.
That was one of the key findings of research conducted by the Diocese of Kerry synodal team at the request of the Synod of Bishops in Rome.
As part of the project, 12 adult members of the Kerry Traveller community were interviewed and they felt that local parishes might do more to reach out to them while expressing a hope for a strong and inclusive Church.
Although exclusion from ministries and decision making was an issue for them, the Travelling community also highlighted a number of positive experiences, including the importance of traditional devotional practices, holy wells, Marian devotions, receiving a visit from a priest or religious and the support of clergy during times of tragedy and bereavement.
A number of people in addiction recovery were also interviewed as part of the project and they said the Church represented a place where they found a sense of belonging, education or maturity of faith, regardless of social status.
They considered a Church building to be an important place where they could go to pray, light a candle and find refuge.
“This group expressed the desire that parishes would be more welcoming, inclusive and proactive in inviting people to be involved. They would like to see different opportunities at parish level for faith formation and development,” the synodal team reported.
The group challenged Church leaders to be less institutional in their approach and their vision for the local community and asked that it would become more relatable and that the beauty and mysteries of the faith could be better communicated.
They are seeking a place where the emphasis would be on the spiritual rather than the political, a place where the approach would be to engage with the individual on a personal level, leading to growth in faith.
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