Half the serving priests in one of Ireland's largest Catholic dioceses, Cork and Ross, are over 55, with a quarter over 65 (not including those retired).
With a Catholic population of 235,000, it has 68 parishes and 118 active priests. Meanwhile, just five men from there are studying for the priesthood at St Patrick's College, Maynooth.
Last night the Bishop of Cork and Ross, Dr John Buckley, launched Pilgrim Steps, a plan for the diocese's future prepared by the diocesan pastoral strategy group, which he set up in 2002.
Among its proposals is that the bishop arrange a review of weekday and weekend Mass schedules in the diocese, in consultation with the parishes.
Pilgrim Steps also proposes a restructuring of parishes into "pastoral areas", each of which will comprise at least three parishes and involve the inclusion of lay people.
It has called for parishes in Cork and Ross to volunteer by September to take part in two or three such pastoral areas, as part of a pilot programme.
The document says is it clear that people do not want to lose either their parish identity or a priest of their own, while many priests expressed a preference for co-operation with parishioners and other clergy rather than face growing isolation as clergy numbers decline.
Pilgrim Steps proposes an immediate co-ordination of Mass times and pastoral activities, and co-operation among priests to provide essential cover.
