Addressing priests?

[SAHmommy]

When a priest has the title of Monsignor, does one address him as “Monsignor Smith” or “Father Smith”? Also, is it now normal for a priest to go by “Father Joe” rather than “Father Smith”? The younger priest at my charge goes by Father Fred and I’ve noticed that in most of the Catholic radio shows or podcasts, most go by “Father first name”. I grew up with “Father last name” and it seems a little too familar for me.

SAHmommy

 

[Deacon_Ed]

In general, one should address any cleric in the form that he desires. Priests in religious orders are almost always addressed as “Fr. firstname” from tradition and usually becuase it is a choosen name (although this was not so for the Servites). Most priests and deacons prefer to be addressed as “Fr. firstname” or “Deacon firstname” – and so if that is what they wish, do so.

Technically, when a priest has been granted the honor of being a Monsignor you may call him “Msgr. firstname” or “Fr. firstname” or “Msgr. lastname” or “Fr. lastname” – whatever he prefers. BTW, in Europe the term “Msgr.” generally refers to a bishop and then one addresses them as “Bishop.”

Deacon Ed

 

[MusicMan]

Deacon Ed:

In general, one should address any cleric in the form that he desires.

Technically, when a priest has been granted the honor of being a Monsignor you may call him “Msgr. firstname” or “Fr. firstname” or “Msgr. lastname” or “Fr. lastname” – whatever he prefers. Deacon Ed

I would like to stress Deacon Ed’s point about the address of a cleric is however he prefers to be addressed.

I have a very good and very humble priest friend who was honored with the title of Monsignor. I asked him how he prefered to be addressed and he told me that “Father” was fine. He was a tad too humble for the title.

The parish liturgist (who was my immediate boss on the staff of that parish) heard me address him and refer to him as “Father” instead of “Monsignor.” Word of her chewing me out for addressing a Monsignor improperly got back to the good Monsignor, who, after a quick investigation, put a letter of reprimand in her file and made her apologize to me. Appearently, I wasn’t the only one who had gotten yelled at by this liturgist.

 

[Chatter163]

The parish liturgist (who was my immediate boss on the staff of that parish) heard me address him and refer to him as “Father” instead of “Monsignor.” Word of her chewing me out for addressing a Monsignor improperly got back to the good Monsignor, who, after a quick investigation, put a letter of reprimand in her file and made her apologize to me. Appearently, I wasn’t the only one who had gotten yelled at by this liturgist.

LOL! I love it! Nothing like a bossy liturgical Nazi getting dressed down!

 

[Catholic_Heart]

Our last pastor…who was pastor for about sixteen years… always preferred to be called simply “Harry”…I could never do that, though, and always addressed him as Father Harry. Our new Pastor and Associate Pastor are both called by Father Firstname…The staff simply uses their first names… no “Father”…This would be hard for me to do…

 

[Libero]

Three of the churches I have attended - over the years have all had priests who call themselves father joe - or whatever their first name is, even the bishop does it in our diocese, every letter he ever signs, or article he wirtes has Bishop Brian at the bottom, never his surname.

 

[Kielbasi]

When a priest has the title of Monsignor, does one address him as “Monsignor Smith” or “Father Smith”?

Father Smith is a proper form of address.

Here in Pittsburgh, Monsignor Charles Owen Rice, now deceased, used to have a talk show on KDKA back in the day.

He referred to himself as “Father Rice”. To call such a priest monsignor is fine as well, but *father *also is proper.

 

[bknebel]

I’d say it is definitely up to the priest to tell you what he wishes to be addressed as, but as a form of caution- always call him ‘father [lastname]’ first and then let him correct you as to how he wishes.

I know a priest, Monsignor Edward Burian, who always forgets he was named a monsignor (10 years ago!) and still calls himself Fr. Ed. He is a very humble priest, too. I love him and miss the days when I attended Mass with him!

I do know a priest who was my pastor, Fr. James Patrick Morgan who insists on being called Fr. Morgan. This is totally befitting him. He is a very holy priest and I don’t know if he would be a “Fr. JP.” Fr. Morgan is definitely him. It also has to do with him having a later vocation (ordained at 40) and living in the same town he was assigned in after ordination.

It does depend on the priest and sometimes a first name just doesn’t do it for some reason.

I do not agree with calling a priest simply by his first name. As someone who is ‘in persona christi’ they deserve that title and also, by not using it, sometimes, i think, can be seen as undermining the priestly authority and blurring the lines between lay and ordained.

In Christ,
BKnebel

 

[stbruno]

Here’s the definition of the title"monsignor" newadvent.org/cathen/10510a.htm

 

[Brain]

Fr lastname by default, fr firstname if they want to. some priest have hard to pronunce last names or perhaps their last name just doesnt sound good with a title (if i had i title, i know i would use my first or middle name)

 

[MTH]

I grew up with two uncles as priests and everyone (cousins, etc), called them Fr. (first name). Now in the parish I am, the priests are always refered to by the same thing, Fr. (first name) and that is how they always refer to themselves. At the beginning of Mass, the announcement is always, "today’s celebrant is Fr. (first name). I think the only time you call a priest by Fr. (last name) is for more formal occassions.

 

[JCPhoenix]

Like many, I grew up around the formal, “Father surname”. Or simply, “Father” which I will still use today.

In my parish, we address our priests by their surnames…Father Zeheren, Father Hennen, etc. I have heard them introduce themselves to people as “Father surname”, so in that they give an indication as to how they prefer to be addressed.

We did have one priest, Father Puthemparambil (I think I probably misspelled that), and he preferred to be called “Father first name”. He was a much loved priest and if everyone who greeted him used his last name, he’d never get anywhere! It takes 10 minutes jus to SAY his name! I’ve found this to be the case also with other priests with long last names…they are Father first name.

I’d say that if you know the cleric’s title, but don’t know him personally, then use the formal title and let him correct you if he prefers to be addressed differently.

I often just call them “Father” unless I need to single them out for a particular purpose (ie if several priests are standing in a group).