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Priests’ sermons can be ‘dull’
28.11.11
by Caoimhinn Barr, Inishowen Independent
AN INISHOWEN parish priest has said he accepts the
fact that weekly church sermons can often be ‘dull’
despite the best efforts of local clerics.
Fr. John Walsh said that preaching every Sunday can
become ‘onerous’ while parishioners hearing the same
priest week in, week out ‘doesn’t help’ either.
The Buncrana cleric’s comments come after a senior
Vatican Cardinal blasted priests for becoming ‘grey,
dull and flavourless’.
Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, the Vatican’s top
cultural official, called on Catholic clerics to
inject some ‘scandal’ into their sermons to spice
them up and avoid becoming boring.
The 69-year-old Italian Cardinal also praised online
social network site Twitter and encouraged priests
to make use of it or risk becoming ‘irrelevant’ to
the up and coming generation.
Speaking to the Inishowen Independent this week, Fr.
John Walsh said the Cardinal made some valid points. |
“I can certainly accept
that sermons can be dull even if they have been
scrupulously researched and prepared. Hearing the
same priest week in, week out doesn’t help either.
Preaching every Sunday can become onerous and I
would accept what the Cardinal has said; he speaks
with credibility,” he said.
The Buncrana parish priest, a contender to take over
from Dr. Seamus Hegarty as new Bishop of Derry next
year, revealed that he begins work on his weekly
sermon as early as every Tuesday morning. He said
the Sunday homily remains a crucial part of a
cleric’s work. |
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Fr. John Walsh. |
“The sermon is very
important, absolutely. I usually start preparation
work on a Tuesday before mulling things over
throughout the week. I do try to draw on examples
from history or the newspapers. In terms of spicing
things up though – that is easier said than done
because we have a duty to do that in a way that is
truthful,” Fr. Walsh added.
Addressing the issue of priests using social media
websites such as Twitter or Facebook, Fr. Walsh said
he accepts that priests should try to communicate as
effectively as possible. He is not an advocate of
the online forums however.
“I am aware of such sites but I think they invade
people’s privacy. It’s horses for courses and those
courses aren’t for this particular horse I suppose,”
he added with a smile. |
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