New priest on EWTN

[screwtape01]

How long does it take for these new priest move on and go to work in Dioces the are in real need of priests. Up here in Maine one priest has to travel to 3 churches to celebrate mass.
This seems unfear when when EWTN has the 6 regular priets that I love (not drazy about Dominic). Now you have two new priests and on deacon.

These people need to be sent you to proclaim the Word of God to place’s that really need them

Thank you,
Wayne from Maine-

 

[JerryZ]

How long does it take for these new priest move on and go to work in Dioces the are in real need of priests. Up here in Maine one priest has to travel to 3 churches to celebrate mass.
This seems unfear when when EWTN has the 6 regular priets that I love (not drazy about Dominic). Now you have two new priests and on deacon.

These people need to be sent you to proclaim the Word of God to place’s that really need them

Thank you,
Wayne from Maine-

And EWTN is somehow less important? seen that is reaches millions of people?

 

[LilyM]

How long does it take for these new priest move on and go to work in Dioces the are in real need of priests. Up here in Maine one priest has to travel to 3 churches to celebrate mass.
This seems unfear when when EWTN has the 6 regular priets that I love (not drazy about Dominic). Now you have two new priests and on deacon.

These people need to be sent you to proclaim the Word of God to place’s that really need them

Thank you,
Wayne from Maine-

Well they certainly seem to have successfully proclaimed the Word of God you without leaving their studio

They do reach an awful lot of people that otherwise wouldn’t hear their message. That is every bit as important and noble a work as that of a parish priest.

Besides which - my understanding is that they do regular priestly duty for the impressive numbers of visitors who flock each day to the Shrine where EWTN is based and need confession, Mass etc just as much as folks in your neck of the woods. On a per capita basis it would even out at least.

 

[garn9173]

Aren’t most, if not all, of the priests on EWTN a member of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word that was started by Mother Angelica?

 

[lizaanne]

How long does it take for these new priest move on and go to work in Dioces the are in real need of priests. Up here in Maine one priest has to travel to 3 churches to celebrate mass.
This seems unfear when when EWTN has the 6 regular priets that I love (not drazy about Dominic). Now you have two new priests and on deacon.

These people need to be sent you to proclaim the Word of God to place’s that really need them

Thank you,
Wayne from Maine-

I actually have to agree with you on this. A priest’s first and foremost responsibility is to provide the sacraments to the people. If these priests are making television their first priority then something is fundamentally wrong there. If they are doing tv in addition to ministering to a parish, then fine, if they can successfully juggle such a schedule. Otherwise, the priests, and EWTN, need to really think long and hard about what their priorities really are.

If we were not in a priest shortage crisis then no problem - but given the fact that most priests are over burdened with multiple parishes, and some communities do completely without priests at all, this is not the time to be having an entire staff of full time tv personality priests on a show.

EWTN does very good work - don’t get me wrong - but it all needs to be put in proper context to the wider issue of a serious priest shortage.

~Liza

 

[LilyM]

I actually have to agree with you on this. A priest’s first and foremost responsibility is to provide the sacraments to the people. If these priests are making television their first priority then something is fundamentally wrong there. If they are doing tv in addition to ministering to a parish, then fine, if they can successfully juggle such a schedule. Otherwise, the priests, and EWTN, need to really think long and hard about what their priorities really are.

If we were not in a priest shortage crisis then no problem - but given the fact that most priests are over burdened with multiple parishes, and some communities do completely without priests at all, this is not the time to be having an entire staff of full time tv personality priests on a show.

EWTN does very good work - don’t get me wrong - but it all needs to be put in proper context to the wider issue of a serious priest shortage.

~Liza

Well St Peters in Rome isn’t a parish as such, neither is Lourdes or Fatima. All, however, have a steady flow of pilgrims who need ministering to, and need the sacraments, every bit as much as anyone. Same with the Shrine in Hanceville where these brothers are based.

How exactly is ministering the sacraments to pilgrims (which the EWTN brothers do as well as many other priests in the other places I have mentioned) any less necessary? People have to be met where they are, and if there are more in Hanceville or Rome than Maine or Anytown USA then it is a perfectly correct prioritising of resources.

 

[lizaanne]

Well St Peters in Rome isn’t a parish as such, neither is Lourdes or Fatima. All, however, have a steady flow of pilgrims who need ministering to, and need the sacraments, every bit as much as anyone. Same with the Shrine in Hanceville where these brothers are based.

How exactly is ministering the sacraments to pilgrims (which the EWTN brothers do as well as many other priests in the other places I have mentioned) any less necessary? People have to be met where they are, and if there are more in Hanceville or Rome than Maine or Anytown USA then it is a perfectly correct prioritising of resources.

Hey - cool - if they are ministering the people by providing the sacraments where they otherwise can’t be obtained, then wonderful!! If, however, there are still a sufficient number of priests in the area, and people are only going to them because of a celebrity status of some sort, then I think that is a misuse of available clergy.

~Liza

 

[LilyM]

Hey - cool - if they are ministering the people by providing the sacraments where they otherwise can’t be obtained, then wonderful!! If, however, there are still a sufficient number of priests in the area, and people are only going to them because of a celebrity status of some sort, then I think that is a misuse of available clergy.

~Liza

Celebrity status? People flock to Rome because the Holy Father is well-known - very much a celebrity if you will. Are they wrong to do so? Does the reason he is well known (for his spiritual leadership and holiness) make no difference? after all, these pilgrims are not like paparazzi or Hollywood starlets chasing fame either for its own sake or to make money. Should the Holy Father run away and go live in a cave somewhere? Should people shun and avoid him and his city as they would a leper?

Is it wrong to travel and speak publicly and to wide audiences? To be well-known as a spiritual leader and teacher and sought out as a result? Many of our greatest saints have done exactly that with exactly that result - and broight many souls to God by such means. St. Paul would certainly be using every media tool available to him to spread God’s word and draw people to Him were he alive today. And I don’t think he would be wrong to do so.

 

[lizaanne]

Wow - ok, well I can see that any attempt at a rational discussion about this is pointless.

Cave? Leper?



I’m out…

~Liza

 

[LilyM]

Wow - ok, well I can see that any attempt at a rational discussion about this is pointless.

Cave? Leper?



I’m out…

~Liza

It’s equally irrational to pose a false dichotomy, as you do, between being what might be termed a ‘celebrity’ priest and doing real spiritual good - or seeking out same and receiving genuine spiritual benefit from doing so.

You only need to look at someone like St Padre Pio - who was both celebrated and undoubtedly sought out by many precisely for that reason - to see that there can easily be a harmonious blend.

 

[kmuestwin]

Aren’t most, if not all, of the priests on EWTN a member of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word that was started by Mother Angelica?

They all are. I met them this year.

It seems like their vocation is fulfilled. They proclaim the faith and they tend to the spiritual needs of all of the employees at EWTN. Their abundance of vocations has nothing to do with a lack of Diocesan priests. They are two very different callings.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

How long does it take for these new priest move on and go to work in diocese’ the are in real need of priests. Up here in Maine one priest has to travel to 3 churches to celebrate mass.
This seems [unfair] when when EWTN has the 6 regular [priests] that I love

These people need to be sent you to proclaim the Word of God to place’s that really need them

Thank you,
Wayne from Maine-

The regular priests on EWTN are friars of the Franciscan order founded by Mother Angelica. You could write to them and to your bishop asking for a friary in your diocese. You could also work with your bishop to increase vocations in your diocese. It is very interesting that some diocese’ and seminaries have adequate vocations and some have very few.

Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word:
franciscanmissionaries.com/

 

[awsiukiewicz]

I actually have to agree with you on this. A priest’s first and foremost responsibility is to provide the sacraments to the people. If these priests are making television their first priority then something is fundamentally wrong there. If they are doing tv in addition to ministering to a parish, then fine, if they can successfully juggle such a schedule. Otherwise, the priests, and EWTN, need to really think long and hard about what their priorities really are.

If we were not in a priest shortage crisis then no problem - but given the fact that most priests are over burdened with multiple parishes, and some communities do completely without priests at all, this is not the time to be having an entire staff of full time tv personality priests on a show.

EWTN does very good work - don’t get me wrong - but it all needs to be put in proper context to the wider issue of a serious priest shortage.

~Liza

 

[awsiukiewicz]

EWTN was responsible for my returning to the Sacraments in 1986…We have to be carefult to not judge the Priests on EWTN…we would prbly be surprised to know just how much they do behind the scenes…I seriously doubt…this all about being on T.V. …I am currently working out west…there are two Catholic Churches here…One of them is in an upscale neighborhood as evidenced by the parishioners attire…the other less affluent (socially) but In my estimation a more devout and involved group of Catholics…2 Priests at the upscale church…and they do not offer Mass every day during the week…they DO offer prayer/Bendiction on first Friday. but, not Saturday morning Mass…I see the Priest at the YMCA during the week…Confession is offered for 30 minutes on the Saturday (and by appointment ofcourse)…the less affluent Parish…where I attend Mass offers a daily Mass, and they have less help…my point…there are Priests in Parishes where there is actaully too much help…by the way…I lived in ME for three years and loved it…(UNE)…the Priests at EWTN are providing a service…just as the Carthusians, Benedictines and Religious of other Orders are …PAX

 

[Scoobyshme]

Dioceses get vocations according to how faithful they are to the Church and the Church’s teachings. Those dioceses who have lots of vocations are very faithful. Those who do not, are lacking. Dioceses like Lincoln, Nebraska and Springfield, Illinois, for example, have lots of vocations. Dioceses that aren’t so faithful (a majority?), are wanting.

I think 1 in 6 young men have a calling to the priesthood. (Don’t remember where I heard that from.)

Here are some good videos on vocations to the priesthood, etc.

youtu.be/3FbL7eFJGdQ (The Catholic Priesthood)

youtu.be/kfnHAWKI7dE (To Be a Priest)

youtu.be/jbhZ9J0NxzU (A Week in the Life of a Priest)

youtu.be/W1giuJXhzUw (A Day in the Life of a Seminarian)

youtu.be/fEhx8mZdMYI (A Priest Forever! - a beautiful song!)

youtu.be/jnaLVE4ayDs (Why Become a Priest? Powerful Reasons, Great Answers!)

youtu.be/9LRVYhV8QNU (Brian’s Vocation Story)

youtu.be/cgsybBEJqJA (Why Catholics Priests Do Not Marry)

youtu.be/LAjQcsgzbAY (Catholic Vocation to Priesthood (FSSP) (1/3))

youtu.be/Q-fiOhPvpvw (Catholic Vocation to Priesthood (FSSP) (2/3))

youtu.be/LWYl6pWqPCM (Catholic Vocation to Priesthood (FSSP) (3/3))

 

[kkollwitz]

“You could also work with your bishop to increase vocations in your diocese. It is very interesting that some diocese’ and seminaries have adequate vocations and some have very few.”

Yes. Our diocese (Charleston SC) has an energetic vocations director who gets out into the parishes weekly, and bring seminarians along as well when they’re in town. He has a great FB page which is constantly updated. We have a diocesan discernment house a few blocks from the Cathedral. Many parishes are nurturing a new generation of vocations.

 

[Burdensome1]

Lot of worthless **** in this thread, too.

I think you could take any priest who does any job except pastor a parish and gainsay it in this way.

 

[LilyM]

Lot of worthless **** in this thread, too.

I think you could take any priest who does any job except pastor a parish and gainsay it in this way.

Are you saying no priest should be doing any job except pastoring a parish? That any priest who does anything else is somehow not being faithful to their vocation? Remember that our Pope, Cardinals and Bishops are all priests - should they step down from these roles then?

Remember also that there are orders such as the Jesuits set up very much for non-diocesan roles such as education, healthcare and so on. Remember there are other priests who make great contributions to the faith and the faithful as theologians without ever being in a parish.

 

[Burdensome1]

Sigh.

 

[Sirach2]

If the friars have been cloistered except for their duty to say mass on the program, similar to the **cloistered ** Poor Clares in communion with Mother Angelica, I think it is very judgmental to expect them to serve in parishes. The vocation to religious life is radically different from being a parish priest. Liza must be getting her angst toward priests from her mentor.