Changes in my parish

[ProVobis]

Op here

I know many who attended Daily Mass and are devastated by this. Such a cutdown in Mass less times receiving Eucharist

Not necessarily, if EMHC’s or deacons are available. Not trying to diminish the problem but priests do perform other functions.

 

[Gorgias]

I know priests aren’t bosses of themselves, but they can ask.

Imagine you’re a bishop in the U.S. – you know that you might have enough priests today, but you also know that there isn’t a glut of priests today. One of your priests asks to leave, simply because there are fewer priests in another diocese. If you take your obligation to your diocese seriously, is there any way that you can say ‘yes’ to this request? :nope:

The Archdiocese for the Military Services has been singing this song for years now: they can’t get enough Catholic chaplains – and part of the problem is that bishops aren’t releasing their priests for service, even when priests ask. And military service doesn’t imply that the priest will be gone from the diocese forever. It’s a difficult problem…

 

[thistle]

Here we are fortunate. We have 3 Masses daily Monday to Saturday and every Sunday we have 10 Masses.

 

[TimothyH]

Here we are fortunate. We have 3 Masses daily Monday to Saturday and every Sunday we have 10 Masses.

Same here. We are starting our third mission Church.

Everyone in the US thinks there is a crisis in the Church based on the closings but they don’t hear about the many diocese in the South which are booming, can’t build Catholic schools fast enough and can’t find space to park all the cars.

Everyone in the US has moved South, that’s all. No one wants to live in the North with cold weather, high taxes and legalized gay marriage.

-Tim-

 

[Mary_Ellen]

Hmm, I empathize with your frustration but not your personalization of the situation. This is not being done to you.

In our area we’ve closed three parishes, merged three more into one big parish with just two priests and there are two more parishes to come on board when their shared pastor dies. Blunt but true. I strongly suspect that when that happens the church I prefer to attend will be closed.

This same area used to have enough Catholics and enough priests to support ten thriving parishes with at least two priests, if not three, serving each one. Now we have four priests covering the same geographical area. Less Catholics and less priests. I’m fortunate that I live in a more populated area in our state. A good number of the priests in our diocese have hundred-mile commutes between churches on the weekends and spend part of the week in one parish and part of the week in another. Think of how that makes for scheduling of funerals, much less weekend masses?

I don’t like to think about the church I prefer closing. I must admit that I’m attached to it and to the ministries I’m involved with there. I’m more worried, though, about my bishop and priests and how much pressure they are under to serve an ever increasingly ungrateful flock.

The source of the problem goes deep. Our contraceptive society no longer believes in marriage much less family, which is where vocations come from. When we pray for vocations, pray for vocations not only to the priesthood but also to marriage. They go hand-in-hand.

 

[twf]

And next to much of Latin America, the U.S. and Canada are swimming in priests… In many Latin American dioceses it’s one priest per 10 000+ faithful.

 

[thistle]

Same here. We are starting our third mission Church.

Everyone in the US thinks there is a crisis in the Church based on the closings but they don’t hear about the many diocese in the South which are booming, can’t build Catholic schools fast enough and can’t find space to park all the cars.

Everyone in the US has moved South, that’s all. No one wants to live in the North with cold weather, high taxes and legalized gay marriage.

-Tim-

 

[ProVobis]

Same here. We are starting our third mission Church.

Everyone in the US thinks there is a crisis in the Church based on the closings but they don’t hear about the many diocese in the South which are booming, can’t build Catholic schools fast enough and can’t find space to park all the cars.

Everyone in the US has moved South, that’s all. No one wants to live in the North with cold weather, high taxes and legalized gay marriage.

-Tim-

Still, there has been a steady decline in the US since 1965 per CARA.

cara.georgetown.edu/frequently-requested-church-statistics

 

[Phemie]

And next to much of Latin America, the U.S. and Canada are swimming in priests… In many Latin American dioceses it’s one priest per 10 000+ faithful.

How true! My friend goes to Guatemala to help out at the Mission of an Oblate priest we know. His Mission serves 120 villages, many of which are only accessible by walking up the mountains. She tells of accompanying him as they drive and often walk for hours to celebrate the one Mass the villagers may have a chance to attend in a 2-3 month period.

 

[oliver927]

Oh and there’s 28 seminarians at the Seminary working towards permanent diaconate (priesthood).

Permanent deacons do not typically go on to becoming a priest. That is why they are labeled “permanent”. Deacons who are on their way to becoming a priest are labeled "transitional ".

 

[Angel_Bradford]

Don’t just pray for vocations; encourage them. We all know someone who we think might have a vocation to the priesthood. Talk to them. I know of one young man who had never considered the priesthood until a school nurse asked. He was ordained almost 20 years ago.

I want to buy a chalice to use as a Jesse Cup. My idea is that we will keep a log of everyone who had the chalice that will travel with the chalice. The next man from our parish who is ordained will be given the chalice and the log.

 

[marlap2]

Permanent deacons do not typically go on to becoming a priest. That is why they are labeled “permanent”. Deacons who are on their way to becoming a priest are labeled "transitional ".

You are right. I have a dyslexic memory when it comes to transitional and permanent. Thanks!

 

[HelenRose]

Hi, my parish pastor just retired and now the diocese told us that we will no longer have a resident priest. The new priest will serve three different parishes. Some Sundays we may have to hold parish communion services only. No Mass? Why are the parishioners being treated this way? Does the diocese want us closed? Mass will now be 2 times a week instead of Daily.

We have been a mission church for 100 years. We constantly pray we can have our own priest.