High School Chaplains Removed
By admin • Jun 10th, 2010 • Category: Faith ReportDARTMOUTH, Mass. (AP) _ Citing a priest shortage, the Diocese of Fall River, Mass., is removing all full-time chaplains from its high schools.
The diocese, which had 200 active priests in 1978, expects to have just 58 in 10 years.
The five high schools in the Fall River diocese include one that hasn’t had a full-time priest since it opened in 2007.
John Kearns, a spokesman for the diocese, says priests working near the schools will occasionally perform ministerial tasks, such as hearing confession and celebrating Mass.