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Cork-based Bishop John Buckley has asked priests and congregations in all dioceses to offer prayers this weekend for the farming community.
Bishop Buckley, who is Bishop of Cork and Ross, also called on the Government and address the fodder crisis.
“I have been travelling the diocese before and during Easter and have been talking to farmers and to their families,” Bishop Buckley said.
“Due to lack of feed, animals are suffering great stress during this difficult winter and late spring.
"I am calling on Government to monitor this crisis situation closely and to generously and quickly address the feed requirements of animals. This emergency situation has resulted in reports of animals dying on farms.”
Prayers
The Bishop added that he had been approached by many farmers, asking for prayers.
“I am asking all masses in the dioceses to offer prayers this weekend for the farming community and to pray for an end to the wet and unseasonably cold weather.
“Over the past few weeks I have witnessed great hardship in the farming community. This is particularly true of west Cork. Let us remember them in our prayers.”
Prayers have been said at masses in Limerick, Monaghan and other counties for farmers, their families and their livestock during the current fodder emergency.
'It’s the men and women I’m worried about - we’ll get fodder for cattle'
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