How do you act around priests?

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I don’t know how to act around priests. I don’t usually interact with them much outside of Mass, and it’s usually just a handshake as I exit the church. I know priests are people, too, but somehow I feel they’re different, more holy and somehow outside of and above the secular world. I’m usually a pretty social guy, but I have to admit that I get more silent, self-conscious, and awkward when I’m around a priest.

What has your experience been?
 
Mine has always been a good expierence. My priest and I always have good talks outside of Mass and they are really fun. Although ive seen some priests act like they are above us lay folks (guess thats why attendance was low at their Mass). But I always act myself!
 
I have had our priests over for dinner. Gone out to dinner with them, and even gone to hockey games.

They’re people too, and not everything in their life is church related.

Many that I know are food/cooking freaks, others are sports nuts, and some are into art and museums.

Explore, and see what common interests you may share.
 
My experience has been the same. I went to Catholic school in high school and still felt awkward around priests like I always had to be “extra holy” before I spoke to them.

Later I (don’t be shocked) I dated a man for 7 months before he was called to the priesthood and he said he loves "genuine articles’’ when people act genuine around him with their own personalities it helps the priest to get to know you better.

Peace in Christ,
Mary.
 
I find myself drawn to Priests. Perhaps it is their holiness. I very much like to engage them so as to learn, not only the faith, but spiritual practices. Before he left, we befriended our (extern) parish Priest, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to lunch after 11:00AM mass. He also had an open invitation to eat supper, or simply to drop by. It is always a good thing to have a Priest visit, as they need spiritual support and prayers just as we do.

As well, I believe that a Priest should never have to worry about eating. I think that he should have to turn down invitations, rather than seek them, for “The worker is worth his wage” Matthew 10:10
 
I have one priest/confessor that makes me nervous and I even stutter around the man…my other priest/confessor is like the dad I never had, so i am more relaxed around him.

I think most priests that I have met are awesome, but I do tend to get nervous around them.
 
I live in a small-ish town where it’s not unheard of to run into people you know. Imagine my surprise when I went to a production at the University’s theater of “Spamelot” and saw my priest there – he had season tickets with a parishoner. It was wonderful to see him out and about in his civilian clothes, but I did feel relieved that I wasn’t sitting next to him during the production. But he is British and he had to know about Monty Python:D
 
I’ve been to several parishes. I know the parish I go to and the one my girlfriend goes to…I want to treat them like a father. I kinda feel like a kid again when I’m around the priests. Maybe that’s how it’s supposed be, I dunno but I like it. 🙂
 
kimg901 said:
Its actually happened. No religion, just good times!!!
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That is not what I posted.

Please do not edit my posts like that. It is not funny, and not appropriate, no matter what the subject matter.

:mad:
 
I generally feel like I will say something that just strikes them wrong or indicates that I’m one of “those”, whatever “those” is to him. Being female, I can’t just invite the priest out for a beer, anyway.
 
Just act naturally 🙂 Your reaction is understanding, since a priest is someone to be treated with reverence due to his office, regardless of anything else. But you should not feel uncomfortable. I think that since we only confess to priests, we sometimes have the impression that they look at us to evaluate us and judge us http://forums.catholic-questions.org/picture.php?albumid=2066&pictureid=13948 but of course, that is very silly 🙂 What would we do, then, if we were disciples of Christ and had to spend our days with him?

I share an amusing fact with you. I read somewhere that it used to be in the past times a courteous way to greet a priest was to kiss his hand (though nowadays this is usually done for a bishop 🤷) so one day, after a special Mass that meant a lot for a priest that I knew, I was so touched that, barely holding my tears, after Mass I kissed his hand. He gave me such a puzzled look, and I realized that I had made him feel rather uncomfortable, and that perhaps shaking his hand would have been more natural and still reverent 🙂 I learned my lesson.
 
I treat them like an important guest, even if we’re not in my home. If we talk about the Faith, I let them do almost all the talking. If we talk about other things, I still let them do most of the talking. If they act familiar with me, I take it as an invitation to be more relaxed, but I retain a certain amount of deference.

I like the company of priests.
 
I consider my former pastor a friend and brother. Not sure about our new pastor though he seems nice. He did come out to bless the house this year and we talked a bit. I guess I’m pretty comfortable around religous. Tim
 
twopekinguys said:
That is not what I posted.

Please do not edit my posts like that. It is not funny, and not appropriate, no matter what the subject matter.

:mad:
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My bad King, didnt mean it like that. I meant that I also had our priest come over for dinner and we had some beers. Sorry to have offended. 😦
 
Priests are people, just like us. I like to find out what their interests and favorite foods are so I can tailor their Christmas and birthday presents to what they like. We had the priest from my in-law’s parish over for a cookout and have shared holiday meals with him. He was the first priest I had ever really talked to person-to-person instead of person-to-priest. He told me not to feel self-conscious about ordering a beer with a meal just because he was there if that’s what I really wanted to drink … then he ordered one, too! Our former priest was more of a fatherly figure, but I felt comfortable talking to him about “normal things”. Our new priest is pretty laid back and easy to talk to, and we joke around before and after Mass. I don’t feel comfortable inviting him to our home, though, because he doesn’t like cats and we have five.
R_C said:
Just act naturally 🙂 Your reaction is understanding, since a priest is someone to be treated with reverence due to his office
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, regardless of anything else.
Apparently, you’re not supposed to tell your priest that he’s like the little brother you never had but always wanted. 🤷
 
katy said:
I generally feel like I will say something that just strikes them wrong or indicates that I’m one of “those”, whatever “those” is to him. Being female, I can’t just invite the priest out for a beer, anyway.
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Yeah, that’s the worst part about being a female - you don’t want to give the appearance of impropriety. One associate pastor we had would only shake my hand while my husband and I were dating/engaged. Once we were married, he felt comfortable giving me “side hugs”, but only when my husband was around.
 
I would say I treat them just as I would anyone else. Since I’m in college, most religious are older than me so I do tend to treat them just as I would any adult older than me. But I do have some close friends (all decently older than me) who are vowed religious. We have white elephants during Christmas, go sledding, eat dinner together, watch movies together, play board games etc. They were called to the religious life, but are still my friends and I am blessed to know them.
 
MaryT777 said:
I went to Catholic school in high school and still felt awkward around priests like I always had to be “extra holy” before I spoke to them.
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Same here. They were somehow “above” the rest of us mere mortals. Then I had two eye-opening experiences. First, I became a volunteer worker in the parish office. After interacting with priests in a work environment, it became obvious that they are just human. Some are nice guys, some are jerks. Some are very humble, some think they’ve been promoted to the rank of God.

My second eye-opening experience: My husband (an atheist who attends mass with me) became very good friends with one of our priests. They play tennis at least once a week and often watch sports on TV together. It’s not uncommon to find him sitting with my husband on the back porch, shirtless, drinking a beer after a tennis match. Freaked me out the first time that happened. :eek:

So, around our house I just talk to him like one of the guys (although I still call him “Father.” My DH calls him by his first name.) At church I’m a bit more respectful. Although I would NEVER go to him for confession.
 
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