Daily life of a married priest

[E_CT]

What is the typical day of a married priest like, including those who hold a second job? What kind of work do they do all day regarding their priestly duties? What kind of administrative work do they do they do and how much time of their day does it take up? Is their day similar to that of celibate priests regarding their work schedule? I know people always say that everyday is different but what is a typical day like especially since they have families?

 

[Piper28]

From my understanding, Catholic priests are called to be celibate - not married. Most protestant priests I know are allowed. I am a parent so I think their own families would be one of their priorities aside from their job. But I do not want to judge them. They often quote that most Jesus followers were married and that only Paul was not. Jesus was not married. Sorry if I do not have the exact answer to your question.

 

[edward_george1]

Eastern Catholic priests are often married, as are a handful of formerly Anglican priests who joined the Roman Church.

-Fr ACEGC

 

[Piper28]

Thanks for the info. I was not aware of this before.

 

[ZemD]

I’m not a married eastern orthodox priest but I worked for one many years ago taking care of his disabled son.

He did seem very busy. His wife was extremely busy also, getting calls from parishioners and those in need, literally all hours of the day and evening.

But he also had a normal family life in that he lived with his wife and his adult disabled son, and he had a married adult daughter who had her own children that would visit.

 

[Anicette]

From what you have witness @ZemD, (which is probably the typical case), we can conclude that the day of a priest is usually busy. And if he is married, the family life is also very impacted ande become busy too.

At least the wife should be 100% engaged by the side of her husband. Preferably, their children should be older.

 

[RyanBlack]

Preferably, their children should be older.

In the Eastern Churches, this would not be any sort of norm, as married priests are part of our tradition. There is no requirement or even expectation that the children be older.

 

[HomeschoolDad]

What is the typical day of a married priest like, including those who hold a second job? What kind of work do they do all day regarding their priestly duties? What kind of administrative work do they do they do and how much time of their day does it take up? Is their day similar to that of celibate priests regarding their work schedule? I know people always say that everyday is different but what is a typical day like especially since they have families?

I have to imagine that it is not all that different from the typical day of a full-time Protestant minister.

 

[Anicette]

yes, but preference or not, a wife with babies or toddlers would not be as available as she could be. And possibly in a survival state and definitely not available at all and wish that her husband would be more available.

 

[babochka]

E_CT:

What is the typical day of a married priest like, including those who hold a second job? What kind of work do they do all day regarding their priestly duties? What kind of administrative work do they do they do and how much time of their day does it take up? Is their day similar to that of celibate priests regarding their work schedule? I know people always say that everyday is different but what is a typical day like especially since they have families?

I have to imagine that it is not all that different from the typical day of a full-time Protestant minister.

Except for confession appointments.

Their daily schedule is what they make it to be. Each priest needs to work that out according to his situation. My parish does not have a rectory, so my pastor and his wife live about 20 minutes away from the church. Because of that reality, he does much of his work for the parish from home. Some people would find working from home, with the demands of a wife and children, to be too distracting.

a wife with babies or toddlers would not be as available as she could be.

What would the wife need to be available for? Isn’t this true of all wives during that season of life?

wish that her husband would be more available.

This could definitely be true of any wife of young children whose husband has a demanding, time consuming job. It definitely isn’t easy and takes a special kind of woman, plus a healthy dose of Grace.

My priest’s wife is my hero. She lives out her vocation with love and patience for both her husband and his parishioners.

 

[RyanBlack]

yes, but preference or not, a wife with babies or toddlers would not be as available as she could be. And possibly in a survival state and definitely not available at all and wish that her husband would be more available.

That is a legitimate concern. One response, as noted by my friend Elizabeth (Babochka) is that it’s not really all that different than any family with young children where the father has a very demanding job. You find ways to make it work. Another response is that in Eastern parishes, because this reality goes together with our tradition of married priests, parishioners should respond by offering support.

 

[HomeschoolDad]

HomeschoolDad:

E_CT:

What is the typical day of a married priest like, including those who hold a second job? What kind of work do they do all day regarding their priestly duties? What kind of administrative work do they do they do and how much time of their day does it take up? Is their day similar to that of celibate priests regarding their work schedule? I know people always say that everyday is different but what is a typical day like especially since they have families?

I have to imagine that it is not all that different from the typical day of a full-time Protestant minister.

Except for confession appointments.

True, Protestant ministers (except for Anglicans and, if I am understanding correctly, Lutheranism under some circumstances) do not hear confessions, but they do counsel people on many issues, including issues of sin and morality. While they would not confer absolution (except as noted above), I have to imagine that they would pray with the sinner and give them counsel on avoiding their sins in the future. I don’t know how common this is, but I have to think the situation exists.

 

[babochka]

I think that this is the reality for many married priests in this country, but it isn’t inherent in the married priesthood. It is a cultural problem. Many Protestant pastors do not work 2nd jobs because their congregations give generously enough to provide adequate support for a family.

 

[Lasse]

Our parish priest is married with small children and he works a secular job, apart from being our pastor. He is quite open about his situation and he tries to keep healthy boundaries as to what we can expect of him. Unmarried priest’s should be monks, at least in the Eastern tradition, and our monks should pray about eight hours per day, which also takes up quite alot of their time.

I think it is the responsibility of the parish to relieve the priest and his family of unnecessary tasks, and also to support them financially if we take too much of their time. It is not necessary to have the priest make all the decisions, to organize everything or to be at every meeting. The quire leader can organize the music, the sacristan can make sure the church building is set up properly, the deacon can organize charities or youth activities etc.

I think it is helpful for the priest’s if confessions are made at Saturday Vespers or before the Sunday Liturgy. The same thing with baptisms etc. If you expect the Priest to bless your home etc. with short notice, then you need to make sure he has the financial support to work less for a living.h

 

[jeannetherese]

I believe that, in the Eastern Rite Churches, men must be married prior to ordination to the priesthood.

 

[Anicette]

You’re right. Marriage is always prior to ordination. If a candidate to ordination is single he will stay celibate all his life.

 

[dochawk]

I believe that, in the Eastern Rite Churches, men must be married prior to ordination to the priesthood.

correct, as is the case with the EO (although historically, some have refused to ordain unmarried men outside of the monastery)

 

[Alexandria2020]

correct, as is the case with the EO (although historically, some have refused to ordain unmarried men outside of the monastery)

I have a Latin friend who switched over to the Byzantine CC. And he’s married.
So ur saying he can still became a priest in the BCC?

 

[dochawk]

Conceivably, today (as opposed to a decade or so), he could, yes.

However the ECC in the US are still working out the process. It has happened already, I believed, but the logistics are an issue.

And if the reason for gas transfer was ordination, he’s going to hit a hard wall.

 

[Alexandria2020]

Conceivably, today (as opposed to a decade or so), he could, yes.

However the ECC in the US are still working out the process. It has happened already, I believed, but the logistics are an issue.

And if the reason for gas transfer was ordination, he’s going to hit a hard wall.

are the majority of the clergy of the BCC American-born? I notice the Metropolitan Archbishop William C. Skurla is born in Minnesota.

I have a young priest coming to our nearest Byzantine church (under Eparchy of Passaic). Notice he’s born and brought up in NJ. but the previous priest was a missionary priest from Ukraine (tho he was only at the church for like 2 years). prior to that there was an American born priest serving at the parish since 1959. until he retired a few years back.

so that one priest served from '59 until '16 or '17… wow… is that common in the BCC?