Is being Pastor/Parish Priest for Your Parish His Only Paid Job?

[ilySHJ]

Our previous pastor taught a half-day at the local high school. Latin, of course!

What a great priest!

In spite of a delicate stomach and a strong personal preference to stay home, he came to dinner 3-4 times a year. He visited all 31 families, keeping track on a calendar so no one was slighted.

He donated his entire teaching paycheck to the parish and most of his diocesan paycheck as well; otherwise, we would’ve been hardpressed to even pay the bills!

He took good care of us, Mass seven mornings a week and Confessions every Saturday, ongoing prayer, discussion, or catechesis, and a religious educ program for the youth.

24 families attended weekday Mass at least once a week! Some of us daily.

When he reached retirement, he asked the bishop if he could continue as parish priest and remain in our parish. Sadly, he passed away about 5 years ago.

Our current pastor … [complaints deleted] … basically he’s the opposite and never comes to dinner.

 

[SMHW]

Our priests (4) don’t get paid, as they’re religious.

These are priests for your parish? If so, does the religious order get paid by the diocese for the services of these priests?

 

[Phemie]

Our priests (4) don’t get paid, as they’re religious.

My former Pastor was also a religious priest, but unlike most religious, their province allowed them to have a bank account and credit card.

 

[ConstantineTG]

These are priests for your parish? If so, does the religious order get paid by the diocese for the services of these priests?

If the religious are serving a diocesan parish, then they get paid by the diocese as they would a diocesan priest. But they then forward the money in its entirety to their Order.

 

[YoungTradCath]

These are priests for your parish? If so, does the religious order get paid by the diocese for the services of these priests?

Yes, but at a discount.

 

[CB_Catholic]

OK, so the local Dominicans have a church which serves the Diocese, but the church does not belong to the Diocese. So do these priests get paid by the Diocese? I was not aware of that if they do.

 

[Phemie]

OK, so the local Dominicans have a church which serves the Diocese, but the church does not belong to the Diocese. So do these priests get paid by the Diocese? I was not aware of that if they do.

I don’t know how it works in the US but my diocese sets the amount the priests are compensated based on whether they are diocesan (all diocesans get paid the same) or religious (they are paid based on the contract between their order/congregation and the diocese).

In our diocese the religious are being paid about 60% of what the diocesans are, but they also get paid for 2 trips/year to their Provincial Headquarters and for their retreats each year. Regardless of whether they are diocesan or religious they are paid by the parishes, not the diocese.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Yes, but at a discount.

I don’t think so. At least this is what a past pastor told us when we asked him about incomes of priests. They get paid full price but everything goes to the Order. How else do you think the Order gets money? Of course there are other institutions they would run, like their own parishes, retreat houses, schools, etc., that generate income. But also because all the religious are under vows (part of the vow of poverty) to forward all income to the Order. Basically, their income is everyone’s income.

 

[YoungTradCath]

I don’t think so. At least this is what a past pastor told us when we asked him about incomes of priests. They get paid full price but everything goes to the Order. How else do you think the Order gets money? Of course there are other institutions they would run, like their own parishes, retreat houses, schools, etc., that generate income. But also because all the religious are under vows (part of the vow of poverty) to forward all income to the Order. Basically, their income is everyone’s income.

I know that my priests’ congregation accepts a discounted price from the diocese for their ministry at the parish.

 

[ilySHJ]

Our previous pastor taught a half-day at the local high school. Latin, of course!

What a great priest!

In spite of a delicate stomach and a strong personal preference to stay home, he came to dinner 3-4 times a year. He visited all 31 families, keeping track on a calendar so no one was slighted.

He donated his entire teaching paycheck to the parish and most of his diocesan paycheck as well; otherwise, we would’ve been hardpressed to even pay the bills!

He took good care of us, Mass seven mornings a week and Confessions every Saturday, ongoing prayer, discussion, or catechesis, and a religious educ program for the youth.

24 families attended weekday Mass at least once a week! Some of us daily.

When he reached retirement, he asked the bishop if he could continue as parish priest and remain in our parish. Sadly, he passed away about 5 years ago.

 

[centurionguard]

I don’t know how it works in the US but my diocese sets the amount the priests are compensated based on whether they are diocesan (all diocesans get paid the same) or religious (they are paid based on the contract between their order/congregation and the diocese).

In our diocese the religious are being paid about 60% of what the diocesans are, but they also get paid for 2 trips/year to their Provincial Headquarters and for their retreats each year. Regardless of whether they are diocesan or religious they are paid by the parishes, not the diocese.

My archdiocese sets similar standards. Although the majority of once religious priest once flourishing in the 1980’s has shown a steady decline to date with no religious order priests or nuns existing in our archdiocese. All have been called back to their provincial headquarters, retired or passed away. From 125 priests now less than 20.
My parish priest serves 3 parishes besides being the Vicar General of the English Deanery.

Strangely; I’ve never really looked at the vocational mission of a priest’s work as a shepherd for sheep in a parish as “merely a paid job” as if stereotyping his role as a hired paid worker. Perhaps I misinterpretreting the thread direction in this fashion. For the most part I would have thought a secular priests recompense in reference to salary should meet the standards of basic standard of living without being lavish in luxury or necessarily within the standard of poverty unless such is his own choice. Not every priest is bound by the call of poverty though wisely encouraged to reflect his spiritual call. The greater his mission of responsibilities under the bishop the more coslly his expenses to the parish itself. His parish expenses being separate from his basic standard of living salary just above the poverty line. I wouldn’t even term a secular priest modest income as even coming near middle class earnings most of which in Canada near or exceed the six figure salary for a trades person. Most Canadian nurses with a BA are bringing in $55,000-$70,000

Not sure how that translates in the United States in comparison to Canada where the poverty line peaks approx at the transitional line of $25,000 gross annually before taxes. Would $35,000-$40,000 gross a year be lavish for a priest today?
Would $50,000 gross a year seem lavish? Add the cost of a vehicle expenses, resident expenses when no loging is available in a rectory as is evident within my archdiocese with the exception of the archbishop. Expenses in personal living add up fast.

 

[Phemie]

His parish expenses being separate from his basic standard of living salary just above the poverty line. I wouldn’t even term a secular priest modest income as even)) coming near middle class earnings most of which in Canada near or exceed the six figure salary for a trades person. Most Canadian nurses with a BA are bringing in $55,000-$70,000

Not sure how that translates in the United States in comparison to Canada where the poverty line peaks approx at the transitional line of $25,000 gross annually before taxes. Would $35,000-$40,000 gross a year be lavish for a priest today?
Would $50,000 gross a year seem lavish? Add the cost of a vehicle expenses, resident expenses when no loging is available in a rectory as is evident within my archdiocese with the exception of the archbishop. Expenses in personal living add up fast.

In our diocese, diocesans get a car allowance if the parish doesn’t have a car (ours does because it was part of the contract with the religious congregation). They pay income tax on their car allowance as well as on their room and board. They certainly don’t make a mint but, since they don’t have to pay for food or rent, their money goes a bit further.

 

[ilySHJ]

My archdiocese sets similar standards. Although the majority of once religious priest once flourishing in the 1980’s has shown a steady decline to date with no religious order priests or nuns existing in our archdiocese. All have been called back to their provincial headquarters, retired or passed away. From 125 priests now less than 20.

wow! That’s a huge drop. Overall our diocese has lost priests but nowhere near that percentage. Locally, the number of priests is unchanged in 40-50 years. Priests here have always shouldered more than one parish. If the number of priests continues to decrease, it will eventually affect the outlying area. I guess they’d have to close parishes.

My parish priest serves 3 parishes besides being the Vicar General of the English Deanery.

Strangely; I’ve never really looked at the vocational mission of a priest’s work as a shepherd for sheep in a parish as “merely a paid job” as if stereotyping his role as a hired paid worker. Perhaps I misinterpretreting the thread direction in this fashion. For the most part I would have thought a secular priests recompense in reference to salary should meet the standards of basic standard of living without being lavish in luxury or necessarily within the standard of poverty unless such is his own choice. Not every priest is bound by the call of poverty though wisely encouraged to reflect his spiritual call. The greater his mission of responsibilities under the bishop the more coslly his expenses to the parish itself. His parish expenses being separate from his basic standard of living salary just above the poverty line. I wouldn’t even term a secular priest modest income as even coming near middle class earnings most of which in Canada near or exceed the six figure salary for a trades person. Most Canadian nurses with a BA are bringing in $55,000-$70,000

Not sure how that translates in the United States in comparison to Canada where the poverty line peaks approx at the transitional line of $25,000 gross annually before taxes. Would $35,000-$40,000 gross a year be lavish for a priest today?
Would $50,000 gross a year seem lavish? Add the cost of a vehicle expenses, resident expenses when no loging is available in a rectory as is evident within my archdiocese with the exception of the archbishop. Expenses in personal living add up fast.

Our pastor makes around $ 40,000. The diocese provides his home, vehicle, gasoline, insurance (health and vehicle), and basic utilities.

It’s interesting how much these things vary from one diocese to another. $50,000 seems lavish for my region where the highest salaries are closer to $ 35,000. But in a more urban area, you couldn’t get by easily on that amount. The most expensive rental property here is a 2-story home on a few acres for $300. In the city, a one-room apartment can run over $1000.