The circumstances in which we now find ourselves as Church in contemporary culture are very different from say even twenty years ago, which is raising a whole series of new questions for us about personal identity, ecclesial identity, pastoral ministry, parish structures, and so on. One of the most immediate tasks on hand is a certain reordering of parish life so as to ensure that the possibility of Christian life will remain a reality in our local communities into the near future. This will mean putting structures in place that have the specific objective of maintaining Christian life in the absence of a resident priest, which, to date, is that to which we have become accustomed.