Last May, Bishop McLoughlin and the Jesuit Provincial, Fr. Gerry O'Hanlon, SJ, announced that the Jesuit Church of St Ignatius in Galway would change from being a Parish Church to a "Service Church" in the Parish of St. Joseph. Father O'Hanlon explained that the decision had been taken in the light of reducing numbers of Irish Jesuits and their ageing profile. In 1971 when St Ignatius became a Parish Church, there were 425 Irish Jesuits. Today there are less than 200.

The Jesuits have been in Galway since 1645 and change has been a constant, if often, uncomfortable companion in our story. Persecutions, lack of finances, the shortage of men, all these factors affected the Jesuit presence in Galway down through the years. The Church of St Ignatius was built in 1863, 140 years ago. Initially it was a "Service Church" and only became a Parish Church in 1971 when the then Bishop, Bishop Browne, asked the Jesuits to run a Parish at St. Ignatius. In 1971 there were 24 members in the Jesuit Community in Galway. Today there are 14, two of whom are living and working elsewhere, and only four of whom are under the age of 70.

Looking back over the history of the Jesuits in Galway two things are clear; a commitment to the education of young people in our schools and a pastoral concern for the people of Galway who sought our services.

We take great pride in the schools we are associated with in Galway today, namely Coláiste Iognáid and Scoil Iognáid. Such is the success of Coláiste Iognáid that today it is still growing and is in urgent need of new classrooms, a Sports Hall and a Chaplaincy Centre. The Jesuit commitment to education in Galway is still as strong as it was all those years ago, and if we are to give the students and staff of Coláiste Iognáid the facilities of a modern, clean, healthier school campus, change must now take place. Coláiste Iognáid, therefore, urgently requires more space on the present site.

Further, in the light of the falling numbers in the Jesuit Community in Galway, and the age profile of those Jesuits, it has been clear for some time that the present community buildings are most unsuitable, both from a personnel and a financial point of view. Consequently, we think that the time has come to build a smaller and more manageable community residence on the present site.

Finally, St. Ignatius' Church has already reverted to what it was originally built for, to be a "Service Church" to the people of Galway who sought our pastoral services. The plan is to reorder the Church to provide a suitable and secure place for prayer and liturgy by those who attend its services. The space created by reordering the Church will provide a Pastoral Centre whose facilities will be available to the local community outside school hours.

The Jesuits in Galway are committed to continuing to serve the people of Galway for as long as possible. Our plans for the development of the school, of St Ignatius' church and the building of a new community residence on site are all aimed at securing the future, for the school and its children, for our many friends and supporters, and ensuring the continued presence and legacy of Jesuits here in Galway. Change is often unsettling, and in this case unavoidable. Yet it is also an opportunity to do something necessary and vital for the schools and our young people and to guarantee, as much as we can, the future of the Jesuits in Galway. We hope that with the support of all the various groups involved we can all embrace change in the hope of providing a vibrant future together.

Clarification needed from the last issue: RE: Theme Weekend.

Missunderstanding may have reared its ugly head form the last issue concerning the statements that 'we had only a five year window with Jesuits in our colleges'. This was merely a way of saying 'time is short and racing by' it was NOT saying that Jesuits are withdrawing from the colleges in five years or anything like that at all.

Fr. Des O'Loghlen, S.J. died in Lusaka on 4th Sept.
Cannon P.J. Early, [P.P., Portadown, 1978-1993) died on 7th Sept.
A sister of Hugh Duffy, S.J, Joan Ghariani, died on 17th Sept.

May they Rest in Peace