New Priest Problems

[ave_maria_92]

I’m a freshman at college and when I got here I started attending the masses on campus through the Newman center. The priest was amazing, insightful, and incredibly warm. I found his homilies truly inspiring. Then, after about 3 weeks, he was reassigned and we got a new priest.
I’m trying as hard as I can to learn from and respect the new priest, but for some reason I’m having trouble. His homilies seem much less intellectual, he doesn’t really seem to relate well to college students, he makes strange jokes while preparing for mass that no one really finds funny, etc. Long story short, I’m having a really hard time listening to him and respecting him, despite the fact that I know he’s trying hard and is a true man of faith.
What should/can I do? I’ve been praying, but so far nothing has improved. I’m considering trying out a local church, but I wonder if God really wants me to give up on a man who has devoted his life to Him. Should I try mass at a local church? Should I continue to go and and pray that things improve? Is this something in myself I need to change, or is it possible that it’s just a personality thing?
Please help me!

 

[PatrickSebast]

I’m not really sure what the best course of action here is, but at the very least I would suggest you try attending some other events on campus which he will be at. Sometimes spending time with a person in a less formal setting than the mass can really change your view of them.

 

[Bassman60]

I don’t have an answer because I’m having a problem with my local church too. I live a block away from a church. The main priest is okay but nothing great. They had a secondary priest who was long winded and not inspirational, he retired, but his reason for retiring was his health was failing so I don’t feel happy about that. The replacement for him has a very thick accent and I honestly have a difficult time understanding him. I believe he is a good man and has great faith but I cannot understand his homily. So my choice at that church is an okay priest or a priest I cannot understand.

I am thinking of switching churches. There is the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in Manhattan and I may start to attend mass there. My confirmation saint is St. Francis and I think he really captured Jesus’ message. The church also has excellent programs for the poor and also has classes about Catholicism. They also have weekday confession which works for me because I work on Saturday.

 

[baltobetsy]

While it’s true that the priest has a big influence on our experience at Mass, we don’t go to Mass for the priest. We go for Christ present in the Mass. Try to focus on Christ more and on the priest less.

 

[CB_Catholic]

I’m a freshman at college and when I got here I started attending the masses on campus through the Newman center. The priest was amazing, insightful, and incredibly warm. I found his homilies truly inspiring. Then, after about 3 weeks, he was reassigned and we got a new priest.
I’m trying as hard as I can to learn from and respect the new priest, but for some reason I’m having trouble. His homilies seem much less intellectual, he doesn’t really seem to relate well to college students, he makes strange jokes while preparing for mass that no one really finds funny, etc. Long story short, I’m having a really hard time listening to him and respecting him, despite the fact that I know he’s trying hard and is a true man of faith.
What should/can I do? I’ve been praying, but so far nothing has improved. I’m considering trying out a local church, but I wonder if God really wants me to give up on a man who has devoted his life to Him. Should I try mass at a local church? Should I continue to go and and pray that things improve? Is this something in myself I need to change, or is it possible that it’s just a personality thing?
Please help me!

It can be really hard to adjust to a new priest, esp. when the previous one was so dynamic. But it is quite possible that the new one is uncomfortable working with college students and may not like the assignment any more than the students. At my former parish a priest was assigned that just could not adjust to parish work, and this was a very large parish. He was extremely intellectual, very spiritual, sort of other-worldly, and had difficulty relating to the parishoners–talking to them, etc., while the Pastor was an amiable, lively Irishman with the gift of blarney, who loved being with people, and was well-loved. It was not a good mix, and the new priest was not cut out for parish work. He was, however, a faithful priest. After about six months the priest entered a monastery, where I am sure he was much happier, and that probably was his true calling.

I suggest you pray for the priest, he might be having just as hard a time adjusting to his new position as you are to him, and if this is not what he is called to do, pray that God will place him where he should be. In the meantime, try to get to know him and make him feel welcome, and try to focus on Christ in the Eucharist at Mass.

 

[Dorothy]

I don’t have an answer because I’m having a problem with my local church too. I live a block away from a church. The main priest is okay but nothing great. They had a secondary priest who was long winded and not inspirational, he retired, but his reason for retiring was his health was failing so I don’t feel happy about that. The replacement for him has a very thick accent and I honestly have a difficult time understanding him. I believe he is a good man and has great faith but I cannot understand his homily. So my choice at that church is an okay priest or a priest I cannot understand.

I am thinking of switching churches. There is the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in Manhattan and I may start to attend mass there. My confirmation saint is St. Francis and I think he really captured Jesus’ message. The church also has excellent programs for the poor and also has classes about Catholicism. They also have weekday confession which works for me because I work on Saturday.

If you decide that you are not being spiritually fed by the priests at your local church, I don’t believe it is wrong for you to go elsewhere. Keep them in your prayers, but go ahead and feel free to go elsewhere. There are many wonderful priests at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Manhattan,…I worked near there and used to drop in daily. It was always so peaceful in there, and good to see the confessionals being used daily.

 

[God_sent]

Prayer is always ones continued avenue of approach, though to be more inspired by one who is like minded is a noble thing to seach for, go where the growth of your heart is needed, your in my prayers , on thee other side of the coin your respect for clergy is also very nobel, it reminds me of a incident St. Francis encounterd, his brothers lead him to a Priest who they considered bad, hoping Francis would severely scorn him, (instead) upon seeing the Priest Francis bowed down and kiss his hands, in thanksgiving for the Sacramental life the Priest brings to us…The Priest did a 360% turn toward piety…etc…:angel1: Deo Gracious “Praise be Jesus” , study well sister…:harp:

 

[puzzleannie]

I’t, I’m having a really hard time listening to him and respecting him, despite the fact that I know he’s trying hard and is a true man of faith.
What should/can I do? I’ve!

same advice goes for any priest. Ignore the personality quirks, forgive the minor lapses of charity or civility, and concentrate on Christ present and acting in, with and through him in his conduct of Mass and the sacraments. Look past the man to Christ. Pray for him intentionally, by name, every day, and before every encounter with him.

 

[TurboVW]

same advice goes for any priest. Ignore the personality quirks, forgive the minor lapses of charity or civility, and concentrate on Christ present and acting in, with and through him in his conduct of Mass and the sacraments. Look past the man to Christ. Pray for him intentionally, by name, every day, and before every encounter with him.

Story of my life. Just don’t let the priest bother you - you don’t have to like and approve of everyone in your lifetime.

Not too long ago when I was still in (Catholic) college, we had a few priests I didn’t get along with. Occasionally I’d even correct them after Mass about saying incorrect things in the homily (that is something worth doing). But if it’s a clashing of personalities, don’t bother. Just focus on your friends and schoolwork.