Parochial Houses.

kneemos · 07-04-2023 01:31PM #1

Is there still a house in every parish or have a lot of them been sold off?

Guildenstern · 07-04-2023 01:34PM

I'd say still a house in every parish where there is a priest. Where else are they going to live?

kneemos · 07-04-2023 01:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120451464#Comment_120451464

They have huge houses all over with very few priests. Plenty of room to share.

Can't be healthy going home to an empty gaff anyway.

07-04-2023 01:44PM

I am sure there is at lease a house in each parish. But there would have been several per parish.

breezy1985 · 07-04-2023 01:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120451480#Comment_120451480

Alone is at least healthier than when they were going home to the alter boys.

Princess Calla · 07-04-2023 01:47PM

Our parish has 2 or 3 (definitely 3 a few years ago but think there's only 2 priests now so I don't know) and not small cheap houses either.

Could never understand why they couldn't share as they are 3 bedrooms and 2 bedrooms are big....then a box room which is a box!

dxhound2005 · 07-04-2023 01:53PM

There is one in Bridgetown. But nobody knows where it is.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2056568366/bridgetown-parochial-house

07-04-2023 02:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120451502#Comment_120451502

Sharing accommodation, while necessary for so many people today can be difficult and stressful. The majority of priests are likely in their fifties and older, maybe even older than fifties 🤔 It doesn't seem fair making them live together. Just because they are single men doesn't mean they wouldn't like to have their own space and live independently.I'm not saying that should happen in a large house though. That's something that does need to be looked at.

07-04-2023 02:16PM

Back in the day they would have had housekeeper. It was not unknown for the housekeeper to live in, and some cases be more like a wife.

elperello · 07-04-2023 02:21PM

In some bigger parishes there is a Parish Priests house and a Curate's house.

The Curate's share their accomodation.

I expect that with the reduction in vocations there will be quite a few houses being either sold or repurposed.

07-04-2023 02:36PM

Plenty sold off already I'd say. I know 2 off the top of my head, big old square houses, needed a tidy bit of work to modernise but look well.

Strumms · 07-04-2023 02:49PM

three here…

each priest has his own house. Always been the way..

Two of them will be three bedroom houses. The other is a bungalow I’m guessing is a two bedroom job.

by my guess that’s about 1.5 million in church assets just to accommodate 3 lads….one is semi retired…

each property is a 1 to 3 minute walk from the church door….

there are nearby two bedroom apartments that could be bought for about 270,000 each. Less upkeep costs etc..

Princess Calla · 07-04-2023 03:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120451559#Comment_120451559

It's not really about sharing though.

Why do they need a home built for a family? There are 2 bed houses in the area but not as close to the church.

Plus with a little bit of creativity the 3 bed house could very easily be converted into two units.

They are getting a "free" house I'm sure they can handle a little bit of discomfort.

kneemos · 07-04-2023 03:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120451559#Comment_120451559

Most of them do share,it's only rural parishes that they have their own house,which a lot of them hate apparently because of the loneliness.

There's a local that's the size of a small Hotel,must be worth millions,I think there's three of them in it. No idea where the money comes from to maintain all of these places,the priests need living expenses too.

07-04-2023 04:15PM

That would be an ecumenical matter

Princess Calla · 07-04-2023 04:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120451878#Comment_120451878

I'm far from rural and neither is Strumms..... we're not same locality but I've an idea where he's based.

Like him the houses would be close to 1-1.2 million, which just seems madness.

wotzgoingon · 07-04-2023 04:26PM

My local parochial house is empty and has been for a fair few years at this stage after the priest retired we also do not have a local priest anymore since nobody to take over(who the hell would want to be a priest anyway). A priest comes over on a Sunday to say mass in the local church. One mass a week now on a Sunday buy a priest from another parish.

niallpatrick · 07-04-2023 05:18PM

Parishes in my estate most parochial houses are on church grounds now. Down sizing or getting rid of assets I haven't a clue but my parish what was the former PP's house is now in private hands as for the current PP his house is beside the church next to the garage where the gardening equipment is stored. Jammy get falls out of bed into work and has plenty of storage.

dockysher · 08-04-2023 12:27AM

They all have lovely Parochial houses

Mrs OBumble · 08-04-2023 12:39AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120451852#Comment_120451852

Surely the same should apply to all old people in council housing?

Older priests are at least still working. People are gonna get a shock once the priests die and there's no one to do funerals.

Strumms · 08-04-2023 01:35AM

They’ll just import priests.

scanning the list of lads in the Dublin diocese… by surname recognition there are ‘about’ 55 lads with very ‘international’ first and second names whom given the general age profile of priests which is now of a very aged profile, they weren’t born to immigrant families who settled here… most sound Eastern European and African….

Ramasun · 08-04-2023 01:40AM

Plenty of spare rooms in them. Peter McVerry should be on it.

elperello · 08-04-2023 10:36AM

For the most part we are talking about old men doing a tough job.

Many of them are struggling as it is and past retirement age.

These houses are their homes.

Soon enough the houses will be empty and then the parishes/diocese can decide what to do with them.

Autosport · 08-04-2023 10:45AM

Our parish priests house is housing a Ukrainian family and our local priests house was sold to Focus Ireland.

beachhead · 08-04-2023 01:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120451852#Comment_120451852

I am sure that back in the day when the church(es) started acquiring these houses the concept of apartments did not exist.I think most in the religious life would prefer there own front door i.e. access to the street.Who knows what scuzz they would be sharing an apartment block with

hoodie6029 · 08-04-2023 03:33PM

Parishioners pay to build and maintain it. Goes in the name of the Bishop from day one. No need for a full time priest in the area anymore and the Bishop sells it and the locals don’t see a penny of it. Nice long term ‘investment’ for the Church.

Princess Calla · 08-04-2023 04:18PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120454383#Comment_120454383

I never mentioned apartments.

Jim_Hodge · 08-04-2023 04:20PM

Most sold off around here. There's one parochial house for a single priest covering three parishes.

Jim_Hodge · 08-04-2023 04:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120454823#Comment_120454823

The funds from the last one sold here were used to extend the community centre.

kneemos · 08-04-2023 04:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120455017#Comment_120455017

Must be like a blue arsed fly every Sunday.

wildwillow · 08-04-2023 04:46PM

One fairly new house not in use and not on parish grounds. No idea why it hasn't been sold. So large and well fitted out , it would easily accommodate a family.

Other much older and larger house very close to church grounds is in use by one Priest.

Parochial Houses.

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