Could This Priest Be Avoiding Me?

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lucien123

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Ok, I’ve made a similar post a couple days ago, but I’m getting a bit concerned, so I’ll put a bit more detail in this one. Long story short, I currently stay in a Foreign country, there’s a local monastery that I regularly attend and a priest there who has Counseled me about 4 times, 1 time for a spiritual issue, 3 times for some family complications.

The last time I met with him was more than a month ago. I wrote him an email on Monday, because I needed some quick advise, but It’s now Friday and he didn’t respond. He normally responds within minutes, sometimes hours, and he himself told me that he checks his email a few times everyday. So I do not get why he didn’t respond.

Maybe he’s mistaking this as some sort of Friendship? Or Maybe he thinks my email is too petty to bother with? I don’t know, but I really wanted to talk to him as I’m about to make some drastic changes to my life and I wanted a Clarification about 2 issues from A Priest before continuing, (just to make sure that what I’m doing does not go against the teaching of the church in some way). I also find this weird, because he knows that I’m leaving this country in approximately 2 months, so If he was really concerned about these things he should realise that soon I’ll be completely gone anyway.

He had also arranged for me to visit a monastery, which I did for a few days. I really do not understand, I feel as if he suddenly is just giving me a cold shoulder.

I really do not know many people here, and finding another priest, especially one who speaks english could be a problem for me.

I do not really know if he is avoiding me, but this is my guess. Based on what I wrote, what do you people think?

Please advise,
Thanks,
Lucien
 
Are you sure he even received your email (eg you didn’t misspell the address or something)?

And that he’s not on holiday where he might have no internet access? He said he regularly checks emails, but that might not be possible when he’s not at home.

Maybe a relative is sick and he’s looking after them. Which wouldn’t leave much time or inclination for checking the old email. Maybe he’s been unwell himself, same thing.

Or on a retreat where he might not be allowed to use the internet for a while? Things like mobile phones or internet use are often discouraged At such times.

Or his computer isn’t working and is being repaired?

Maybe he came to the conclusion that he is a little too addicted to Internet and/or email in general and that he doesn’t actually need to respond to it all instantly and check it every day.

There are millions of reasons why he might not answer right away, even if he normally did in the past, that have absolutely nothing to do with you.
 
Thanks for the reply. I’m completely sure that the address was right. I guess you’re correct to a point, but I’m stupid enough to always worry.
 
Lucien sometimes it is possible to seek advice whether something is according to the teachings of the Church within Church documents, many of which, like the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Code of Canon Law, and information already posted on good Catholic websites. Both the Catechism, and Canon Law, for instance, are available in full online.
There are some instances where we must consider these avenues, as if the information is available, it is there to aid us.
I have sometimes thought that if all of us email our problems to the priest it could be overwhelming, and in fact, we don’t know how many people in our area or our parish are writing letters or emails or phonecalls asking for specific advice that at least sometimes we can find ourselves.
Could this be possible here? In some instances, though perhaps not here, a priest may need to inspire us to learn not to become what could seem to be overly dependent rather that using what teaching is available? Such does occur.

As Lily stated there could be other practical reasons.

May God bless and guide you, and God grant you peace.
 
lucien123 said:
Ok, I’ve made a similar post a couple days ago, but I’m getting a bit concerned, so I’ll put a bit more detail in this one. Long story short, I currently stay in a Foreign country, there’s a local monastery that I regularly attend and a priest there who has Counseled me about 4 times, 1 time for a spiritual issue, 3 times for some family complications.

The last time I met with him was more than a month ago. I wrote him an email on Monday, because I needed some quick advise, but It’s now Friday and he didn’t respond. He normally responds within minutes, sometimes hours, and he himself told me that he checks his email a few times everyday. So I do not get why he didn’t respond.

Maybe he’s mistaking this as some sort of Friendship? Or Maybe he thinks my email is too petty to bother with? I don’t know, but I really wanted to talk to him as I’m about to make some drastic changes to my life and I wanted a Clarification about 2 issues from A Priest before continuing, (just to make sure that what I’m doing does not go against the teaching of the church in some way). I also find this weird, because he knows that I’m leaving this country in approximately 2 months, so If he was really concerned about these things he should realise that soon I’ll be completely gone anyway.

He had also arranged for me to visit a monastery, which I did for a few days. I really do not understand, I feel as if he suddenly is just giving me a cold shoulder.

I really do not know many people here, and finding another priest, especially one who speaks english could be a problem for me.

I do not really know if he is avoiding me, but this is my guess. Based on what I wrote, what do you people think?

Please advise,
Thanks,
Lucien
Click to expand...
I don,t think ie is avoid you,he may have many things he got to do,and can,t keep replying to you,so what I would do is,trying talking to another Priest,and see if you can get your answer Buy the way a priest answer you,you can tell if he,swilling to help you. Good luck,and God Bless.
 
Rather than sending him an email why not make an appointment and talk to him about the problem that you need help with.
 
👍
Trishie said:
Lucien sometimes it is possible to seek advice whether something is according to the teachings of the Church within Church documents, many of which, like the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Code of Canon Law, and information already posted on good Catholic websites. Both the Catechism, and Canon Law, for instance, are available in full online.
There are some instances where we must consider these avenues, as if the information is available, it is there to aid us.
I have sometimes thought that if all of us email our problems to the priest it could be overwhelming, and in fact, we don’t know how many people in our area or our parish are writing letters or emails or phonecalls asking for specific advice that at least sometimes we can find ourselves.
Could this be possible here? In some instances, though perhaps not here, a priest may need to inspire us to learn not to become what could seem to be overly dependent rather that using what teaching is available? Such does occur.

As Lily stated there could be other practical reasons.

May God bless and guide you, and God grant you peace.
Click to expand...
 
lucien123 said:
Ok, I’ve made a similar post a couple days ago, but I’m getting a bit concerned, so I’ll put a bit more detail in this one. Long story short, I currently stay in a Foreign country, there’s a local monastery that I regularly attend and a priest there who has Counseled me about 4 times, 1 time for a spiritual issue, 3 times for some family complications.

The last time I met with him was more than a month ago. I wrote him an email on Monday, because I needed some quick advise, but It’s now Friday and he didn’t respond. He normally responds within minutes, sometimes hours, and he himself told me that he checks his email a few times everyday. So I do not get why he didn’t respond.

Maybe he’s mistaking this as some sort of Friendship? Or Maybe he thinks my email is too petty to bother with? I don’t know, but I really wanted to talk to him as I’m about to make some drastic changes to my life and I wanted a Clarification about 2 issues from A Priest before continuing, (just to make sure that what I’m doing does not go against the teaching of the church in some way). I also find this weird, because he knows that I’m leaving this country in approximately 2 months, so If he was really concerned about these things he should realise that soon I’ll be completely gone anyway.

He had also arranged for me to visit a monastery, which I did for a few days. I really do not understand, I feel as if he suddenly is just giving me a cold shoulder.

I really do not know many people here, and finding another priest, especially one who speaks english could be a problem for me.

I do not really know if he is avoiding me, but this is my guess. Based on what I wrote, what do you people think?

Please advise,
Thanks,
Lucien
Click to expand...
Most likely your email was marked as spam in the priests email box. Why not telephone him?
 
Sometimes an email requires and involved answer which might include research to send someone to the right resources. I have been guilty of putting off responding to an email until I have time to send back a worthy answer.

Yes, it’s easy to send email stating “I’ll get back to you”, but sometimes we never get around to doing that.

I would reforward the email and say “Fr. So and So, I just want to make sure you received my email.”
 
poche said:
why not make an appointment and talk to him about the problem that you need help with.
Click to expand...
I wouldn’t have even thought about an e-mail I would have called and made an appointment. No doubt they stay busy. As far as the sent e-mail …no idea.

Peace
 
Check the dates - this was posted on 20 April and according to the part I bolded, the OP has left the country where s/he was when this was posted:
lucien123 said:
Ok, I’ve made a similar post a couple days ago, but I’m getting a bit concerned, so I’ll put a bit more detail in this one. Long story short, I currently stay in a Foreign country, there’s a local monastery that I regularly attend and a priest there who has Counseled me about 4 times, 1 time for a spiritual issue, 3 times for some family complications.

The last time I met with him was more than a month ago. I wrote him an email on Monday, because I needed some quick advise, but It’s now Friday and he didn’t respond. He normally responds within minutes, sometimes hours, and he himself told me that he checks his email a few times everyday. So I do not get why he didn’t respond.

Maybe he’s mistaking this as some sort of Friendship? Or Maybe he thinks my email is too petty to bother with? I don’t know, but I really wanted to talk to him as I’m about to make some drastic changes to my life and I wanted a Clarification about 2 issues from A Priest before continuing, (just to make sure that what I’m doing does not go against the teaching of the church in some way). I also find this weird, because he knows that I’m leaving this country in approximately 2 months, so If he was really concerned about these things he should realise that soon I’ll be completely gone anyway.

He had also arranged for me to visit a monastery, which I did for a few days. I really do not understand, I feel as if he suddenly is just giving me a cold shoulder.

I really do not know many people here, and finding another priest, especially one who speaks english could be a problem for me.

I do not really know if he is avoiding me, but this is my guess. Based on what I wrote, what do you people think?

Please advise,
Thanks,
Lucien
Click to expand...
So, from here on comments are made on an old situation, which cannot be resolved any longer.
johnthebaptist1 said:
I don,t think ie is avoid you,he may have many things he got to do,and can,t keep replying to you,so what I would do is,trying talking to another Priest,and see if you can get your answer Buy the way a priest answer you,you can tell if he,swilling to help you. Good luck,and God Bless.
Click to expand...
 
Try calling. Really, email is an unreliable method of communication. Besides, he really could be busy. I have a friend who’s a priest. I have his personal email address and had to wait almost two weeks for a reply. He told me “things were crazy right now”. These things happen.
 
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