Can priests have other jobs?

[Lost_Wanderer]

I’m certain that there was another thread that asked this question but it was ages since I last saw it.

Anyways, can priests have other jobs? I know of some priests who are also teachers in certain subjects but I’ve never heard of one that teaches out of a Catholic school.

 

[Joannm]

I’m certain that there was another thread that asked this question but it was ages since I last saw it.

Anyways, can priests have other jobs? I know of some priests who are also teachers in certain subjects but I’ve never heard of one that teaches out of a Catholic school.

I know of a priest who also is a nurse.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Anyways, can priests have other jobs?

I think it depends on what you mean by “other jobs.” They’re still priests, of course, no matter what they do. But yes, there are priests who do other sorts of things.

In addition to working in parishes they may work in diocesan offices in various capacities. As you already mentioned priests often teach at various levels including seminaries.

Then there are priests who work in less traditional areas. They may work in social justice areas such as working with gang members. They may edit magazines, or write novels. They may compose music. They might even be doctors.

I think that most – if not all – of the priests who hold these other kinds of jobs also help in parishes on weekends. So while they aren’t involved 100% in parish ministry, they do have some exposure to it.

 

[lil_flower_luv]

I think it depends on what you mean by “other jobs.” They’re still priests, of course, no matter what they do. But yes, there are priests who do other sorts of things.

In addition to working in parishes they may work in diocesan offices in various capacities. As you already mentioned priests often teach at various levels including seminaries.

Then there are priests who work in less traditional areas. They may work in social justice areas such as working with gang members. They may edit magazines, or write novels. They may compose music. They might even be doctors.

I think that most – if not all – of the priests who hold these other kinds of jobs also help in parishes on weekends. So while they aren’t involved 100% in parish ministry, they do have some exposure to it.

I think you pretty much covered it!!

 

[LilyM]

Absolutely. One of our top-notch human rights lawyers here in Australia is a Jesuit priest - Father Frank Brennan.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

I think it depends on what you mean by “other jobs.” They’re still priests, of course, no matter what they do. But yes, there are priests who do other sorts of things.

In addition to working in parishes they may work in diocesan offices in various capacities. As you already mentioned priests often teach at various levels including seminaries.

Then there are priests who work in less traditional areas. They may work in social justice areas such as working with gang members. They may edit magazines, or write novels. They may compose music. They might even be doctors.

I think that most – if not all – of the priests who hold these other kinds of jobs also help in parishes on weekends. So while they aren’t involved 100% in parish ministry, they do have some exposure to it.

Thank you. Your post clarified things very, very clearly indeed. As to the rest, thank you all as well.

buckles down on his short story and mumbles to himself Okay, it’s official. The guy’s a Jesuit priest who teaches at an international high school in Japan. ._.

 

[JReducation]

Many priests who are religious never serve in traditional priestly ministries.

1. Carthusians never celebrate sacraments with the laity present to avoid contamination by the laity. Most of their day is spent in contemplation and manual labor.
2. Franciscans spend more time in social ministries than in parishes and some Franciscan congregations completely forbid parish, hospital, chaplaincy, teaching and other institutional ministries. They only allow social ministries and ministries that no one else will do. This provides a service in an area that is not often well staffed by priests and religious.
3. Marianists only ordain enough priests to serve the brothers in the community. Their ministry is to the Marianist Brothers and to teach. They may not hold positions of authority in the society. Thus they are never allowed to be superiors.
4. Many secular priests have secular jobs to subsidize their income, because the parish cannot afford to pay them a good enough salary. They may work in the parish as well as be counselors, teachers, social workers, psychologists, nurses, physicians, and so forth.
5. Priests in the Armed Forces often perforn many functions that are not traditionally priestly functions.
6. Priests who work at the Vatican or at a chancery may never see a parish in their life, hear confessions, baptize, witness marriages, bury the dead or perform other priestly ministries other than celebrate mass. Their entire lives are spent in administration.

In my diocese our bishop was never a prish priest. He was a high school principal and a seminary professor. I’m not sure how much time, if any, Joseph Ratzinger spent in a parish. But one thing is certain, he spent more time in a classroom and behind a desk than most priests and bishops.

So the answer is yes, priest can do many other jobs that can be done by the laity or by religious brothers and many often do so.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF