Can you answer these priestly etiquette questions?

[KimberlyAnn0218]

I have done a search and found differing answers regarding how to address a priest in different situations. My questions:

1. When introducing your parish priest to a non-Catholic, do you say “Reverend Jones” or “Father Jones”?
2. How do you address your local Bishop a) when he is presiding at Mass and he says “Good afternoon” and the congregation responds: “Good afternoon_______”; b) when meeting him outside of Mass"?
3. How do you address mail to a priest? The Reverend Jones or Father Jones?

Thank you!

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

1. When introducing your parish priest to a non-Catholic, do you say “Reverend Jones” or “Father Jones”?

“Father Jones.” A priest is never referred to as “The Reverend” in spoken conversation. It is an honorific used on envelopes and is the religious equivalent of “The Honorable” for civil servants. If a non-Catholic has a problem calling a priest “Father,” he’ll say so.

KimberlyAnn0218:

1. How do you address your local Bishop a) when he is presiding at Mass and he says “Good afternoon” and the congregation responds: “Good afternoon_______”; b) when meeting him outside of Mass"?

a) There is no need to respond. The greeting should be rhetorical and not analogous to a kindergarten teacher addressing a roomful of five-year-olds; b) Either “Your Excellency” or “Bishop [last name].”

KimberlyAnn0218:

1. How do you address mail to a priest? The Reverend Jones or Father Jones?

Either is correct, but if you are going to use “The Reverend,” this is the place to do it.