Parish Priests

[Catholic_Wife]

But then, dear Catholic wife,could you possibly imagine having to change your husband every two or three years as we have had to do here in recent years with our pastors ?
Peace, Carlan

There are a couple of problems with this analogy. First, I dated my husband several years before agreeing to marry him. I didn’t get to “interview” our priest before he was assigned to our parish. Also, I have no say as to which Mass(es) the retired and/or visiting priests preside over. I take what I get. A priest is a priest. Second, my vow to my husband is permanent. Not so with our priest. He agreed to serve our diocese as directed by the bishop, not by what I or anyone at my parish wants. If the bishop wants him there one year, then so be it. Two years, okay. Ten years, fine. I know that any priest assigned to our parish will not be there permanently. It doesn’t change how I get to know them on a personal basis, or how I trust them with something personal about myself. Of course, my attitude may be influenced by being a “military brat” who got used to change, and I don’t see it as saying “good-bye”, just “see you later”.

My in-law’s parish has had 7 different priests (pastors and associate pastors) in the past 7 years, that I know of; there may have been more. Their parish is still growing and thriving, and does not seem worse off for the experience. When our former pastor was at our parish, we also had several associate pastors - a new one every year or two - because our old pastor was one of the “mentors”. In a way it’s been a blessing because I can go to many parishes within the diocese and know what to expect from the priest.

 

[Carlan]

There are a couple of problems with this analogy. First, I dated my husband several years before agreeing to marry him. I didn’t get to “interview” our priest before he was assigned to our parish. Also, I have no say as to which Mass(es) the retired and/or visiting priests preside over. I take what I get. A priest is a priest. Second, my vow to my husband is permanent. Not so with our priest. He agreed to serve our diocese as directed by the bishop, not by what I or anyone at my parish wants. If the bishop wants him there one year, then so be it. Two years, okay. Ten years, fine. I know that any priest assigned to our parish will not be there permanently. It doesn’t change how I get to know them on a personal basis, or how I trust them with something personal about myself. Of course, my attitude may be influenced by being a “military brat” who got used to change, and I don’t see it as saying “good-bye”, just “see you later”.

My in-law’s parish has had 7 different priests (pastors and associate pastors) in the past 7 years, that I know of; there may have been more. Their parish is still growing and thriving, and does not seem worse off for the experience. When our former pastor was at our parish, we also had several associate pastors - a new one every year or two - because our old pastor was one of the “mentors”. In a way it’s been a blessing because I can go to many parishes within the diocese and know what to expect from the priest.

Sorry Catholic Wife, my poor attempt at being facetious. Peace, Carlan

 

[hcmusicguy]

In the parish where I went to parochial school, a much-loved priest was there for 21 years before retiring in 1998 (same year I graduated from the parish school). Since then, the longest any one priest has been there was 3 years.

This same parish had a pastor who served for 40 years; he was appointed there in 1910, retired from there in 1950, and died only months thereafter.

I think bishops tend to move priests the way they do, every few years, is to prevent exactly what happened in this parish. If you have a longtime pastor, people tend to get very attached, and when he is transferred or retires (usually the later), those people–who are often very vocal–can be very hostile or resistant to any changes his successor tries to make.

 

[tafan]

I understand this, and I definitely have experienced these transitions, including those that have been very difficult. The long-time pastor (20+ years) of one local parish died about 6 years ago. He was a wonderful man and a wonderful priest, but for a long time after his death, the parish bore his “stamp”. It was somewhat difficult for the new pastor to walk in his footsteps, and thankfully the Bishop chose the perfect priest for the transition. He has recently retired, and a new pastor has taken his place. I recently visited and realized that this was no longer “Fr. ____'s parish” . I realize that these things don’t always go well, however, and I’ve seen the other side, too That doesn’t change the fact that this sort of turnover is less than ideal for the faithful, in terms of our relationship to the parish and to the priest. No, the parish is not about the priest, but the priest is not meant to be a mere administrator of sacraments and finances at the parish. He is meant to be our spiritual father, and it takes time to build a relationship of love and trust. There used to be a lot more stability among the people in a parish, as well, with multiple generations belonging to the same parish, for their whole lives. I think the church has typically envisioned a parish as a family, with the priest at the head, rather than the administrative unit that it is the current model.

Very good points

 

[Phemie]

There’s really nothing wrong with a parish being in the charge of regulars, the post-conciliar term “charism” notwithstanding. The Order or Congregation is under no obligation to accept charge of any parish. If they do, they do. It’s their collective decision. And if they later so decide, there are ways that they can abandon it.

We have experience with that. Oblates of Mary Immaculate have been missionaries in this area since the 18th century. When the Vicariate Apostolic was erected in 1945 it was natural that the Oblates would provide missionaries to staff it and that continued when the Vicariate was elevated to a diocese in 1967.

Over the years, different Provinces provided priests under contract to the diocese. All our bishops have been OMI. When I came here in 1997 there was only 1 diocesan priest. But over the last 16 years fewer OMI could be found to come here, and one by one they were replaced by ‘missionaries’ from the Philippines and India. The last Oblate left at the end of June. In the meantime our diocese (which had consisted of territory in two different provinces) was suppressed and my part of it was joined to another diocese in the same province.

Our diocese is huge in area (you can’t drive from one end to the other, you have to drive 800+ miles and fly another 150 to the furthest parish) but small in population (41,000) - 28 parishes, 17 active priests, 7 retired priests.

Since I came in 1997 our parish has had 6 pastors.

 

[otjm]

Good question! I’ve always wondered about this policy. It seems more of a practical, career-oriented policy, but not necessarily in the best interests of the faithful. How are we supposed to be a family if we get a new father every 6 years (or less)?

The analogy of family is just that - an analogy.

And we all most likely know of families which have a member, of whom the other family members wish belonged to a different family…

It is done becasue while he is the “father” of the parish, it is to the spiritual benegit of both the pastor ad the parish that someone else pastor them. One or both sides can become too “set” in their ways, or to put it another way, too stale.

The parish can become routine once the personalities are knows; and the priest also can become too routine. This is about eternal salvation; and all of us - pastors and pew sitters - can benefit from having old presumptions shaken up.

And if you want a prime example; Pope Francis is shaking things up; and that is good for the Church as it can become complacent.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

In this area we have large and active parishes. All have more then one priest so a pastor and then one to several parochial vicars. The pastors are long term usually 10 years or so. The vicars move much more frequently every 3 years or so. This allows for continuity and change. In a parish with 3 priests like mine we have the same group for about 2 years and then one is moved. We also have lots of vocations. 6 ordained this year 7 next year. The bishop moves priests every year after ordinations. This way priests have the experience of working with many other priests and several different parishes before they become pastor themselves. So I’d say developmental rather than career oriented.

 

[Joy2day]

I understand this, and I definitely have experienced these transitions, including those that have been very difficult. The long-time pastor (20+ years) of one local parish died about 6 years ago. He was a wonderful man and a wonderful priest, but for a long time after his death, the parish bore his “stamp”. It was somewhat difficult for the new pastor to walk in his footsteps, and thankfully the Bishop chose the perfect priest for the transition. He has recently retired, and a new pastor has taken his place. I recently visited and realized that this was no longer “Fr. ____'s parish” . I realize that these things don’t always go well, however, and I’ve seen the other side, too That doesn’t change the fact that this sort of turnover is less than ideal for the faithful, in terms of our relationship to the parish and to the priest. No, the parish is not about the priest, but the priest is not meant to be a mere administrator of sacraments and finances at the parish. He is meant to be our spiritual father, and it takes time to build a relationship of love and trust. There used to be a lot more stability among the people in a parish, as well, with multiple generations belonging to the same parish, for their whole lives. I think the church has typically envisioned a parish as a family, with the priest at the head, rather than the administrative unit that it is the current model.

i.agree with you here. I always think the priest should be like a spiritual director & even if only in confession. But it takes a while before one is comfortable enough to bare one’s soul so to.speak even with a priest who is not new. I think if things are going okay, they shouldnt change it or the priest.

 

[TimothyH]

So many Dioceses in our Country are suffering from the lack of priests, I often wonder why the shortage can’t be helped by recruiting more from the various orders.
My parish is in the bible belt, I have lived here for 13 years and we have had a turn over of six priests, the last one leaving just this past month for the special order of Carmelites.
I am not gettin it! Peace, Carlan

Carlan, people join an order to be a member of the order and to participate in the life and charism of the order, and of the specific community. People don’t join an order to be a priest but to be a brother, friar, monk, etc., to be a member of a community first.

Members of the orders are exempt from canon law. They do not report to the bishop in daily life nor are they subject to the bishop in matters of public worship or celebration of the sacraments. Members of orders report to the abbot (monastics) or to the superior of their community. The bishop can “recruit” members of orders to become parish priests but the abbot or superior of the community can just say no and that is the end of it.

It doesn’t make sense for a member of an order to become a parish priest. I know it has happened and I know that there are benedictine, franciscans and others who are parish priests but that is the exception. It is like taking a fish out of water. These men are called by God to be monastics and contemplatives, to be Friars and Brothers. To pull them out of the communites which they discerned a call to and with which they were formed for many years is unfair and selfish. It robs them of their vocation.

-Tim-

 

[tafan]

Carlan, people join an order to be a member of the order and to participate in the life and charism of the order, and of the specific community. People don’t join an order to be a priest but to be a brother, friar, monk, etc., to be a member of a community first.

Members of the orders are exempt from canon law. They do not report to the bishop in daily life nor are they subject to the bishop in matters of public worship or celebration of the sacraments. Members of orders report to the abbot (monastics) or to the superior of their community. The bishop can “recruit” members of orders to become parish priests but the abbot or superior of the community can just say no and that is the end of it.

It doesn’t make sense for a member of an order to become a parish priest. I know it has happened and I know that there are benedictine, franciscans and others who are parish priests but that is the exception. It is like taking a fish out of water. These men are called by God to be monastics and contemplatives, to be Friars and Brothers. To pull them out of the communites which they discerned a call to and with which they were formed for many years is unfair and selfish. It robs them of their vocation.

-Tim-

A couple of things about this, members of orders are not exempt from canon law. And not all men in religious orders are called to be purely contemplative. There are orders that focus on teaching or charitable ministries.
In general a single member of a religious order will not be called upon to be a pastor. But, it is not uncommon, for a Bishop and a religious order to work out a deal such that a parish is assigned to the order itself, and the order will provide the pastor and other priests necessary. Canon law specifically allows for this, and it can work out very good for all involved. In this fashion, they do not normally live outside of their community. Especially if the focus of that particular order and the needs of the parish are aligned. t makes very much sense in those cases.