Prayers needed for a parish

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ColNY

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Please pray for us. Our parish is a vibrant parish, one that has multi-generations of families attending, and good school with excellent teachers and a principal who is both academically and spirtitually strong. Since 1999–the pastors who have been assigned to our parish have been our weakest link. The one who had been there for 10 years left suddenly in May due to emotional and physical health issues. We had an awesome interim priest, but we couldn’t keep him (he was retired). Now we have a priest that is causing more harm than good–and knows it but doesn’t care.
  1. He stopped having weekly school masses. Said that the kids weren’t good enough to participate—he’s not talking about their behavior (they’re good as can be). He’s talking about their ability to do the readings–reading to fast, not pronouncing the words right, their singing, etc. The school–teachers and parents are up in arms. He said he’d bring the Masses back later, maybe, after he’s taken time to decide on how he wants them to be. So no more weekly school Mass.
  2. He’s making changes–some needed, some not–but doing so in a way that is rushed, not well thought through, and hurting people deeply in the process. And seems to enjoy that he can do that.
  3. He told a parishioner if she didn’t like it, not to let the door hit her on the way out.
  4. He told another adult parishioner’s parents that she was the reason that a staff member quit, because earlier in that day, he walked in and overheard the tail end of a phone call in which the parishioner was frustrated. He told her parents that the staff member was upset and quit becuase of her. The staff member refuted the story, said she had been planning to leave because she had a better job–not connected at all. She knew what happened. The staff member even confronted the priest and asked him if he really said that and he admitted he did, and knew it wasn’t true. But even though he caused this woman and her family tension and friction not needed, he refused to apologize. In fact, he’s going out of his way to create more problems for this woman and she’s a wreck because she feels he’s trying to shut her out of the parish. She’s losing her faith. She’s just one of many.
Please, please pray for us that God helps heal this parish. We are a good and vibrant parish. He’s destroying us.
 
Praying for you, your Priest, and for your Parish…

Keep this in mind:

Let nothing disturb you;
Nothing frighten you.
All things are passing.
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Nothing is wanting to him who possesses God.
God alone suffices.
(from the bookmark of St. Teresa of Avila)

Hang in there.

God bless,
~Rae
 
Thank you!

I really need a prayer I can share with others to pray for this person to stop hurting others for sport.
 
Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of death
Amen.

St. Jude, pray for us!
 
I was curious as to what happened to the earlier thread as well… I posted a reply regarding a similar situation a friend of mine went through, but it no longer shows up even under my previous postings through my profile. Very strange. I don’t believe anyone posted anything rude or inappropriate. It’s sad to think you can sit and pray how to respond to someone, take the time to type it out, and then have it deleted.

My prayers are with you all.

Holy Mary,
help those in need,
give strength to the weak,
comfort the sorrowful,
pray for God’s people,
assist the clergy,
intercede for religious.
May all who seek your help
experience your unfailing protection.
Amen.
:signofcross:

“All the darkness in the world can’t extinguish the light of a single candle.” - St. Francis of Assisi
 
Thanks Bix.

I think I saw your post before the thread got pulled. I’m quite annoyed it was pulled as well, as it was one for which guidance, as well as prayers are needed. Maybe I had it on the wrong forum? If so, why did they not move it to another?

Anyway—prayers are so appreciated. I tried to call the diocese to talk about my own issues with him, and they only told me I need to talk to him first.:banghead: Well, um, he is the problem–he punishes people who speak out against him. He thinks he’s still in the service and everyone should OBEY and not question. And if they question, then he makes life hell for them. He doesn’t CARE about how people feel, it’s HIS parish. He’ll fire volunteers. I’m wondering if someone should have done psychological testing on him to make sure he was able to make the transition from military chaplian to parish priest. I don’t think he knows anymore how to work with people who are not enlisted.

Personally, I’m terrified of him.:frighten:
 
May our Lord intervene and help your priest to do His holy will. May everyone in your parish do our Lord’s holy will and persevere in faith. Praying that the children get their Mass back and that the woman who is suffering will be healed and will be blessed with deep faith. Amen.
 
I will keep your situation in my prayers. So sorry to hear of this…

Hail, Mary, Full of grace, The Lord is with thee;
Blessed are thou among women,
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us sinners,
Now, and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
:signofcross:
 
Lord, we ask that you help the people of this Parish and the Priest you have appointed for their spiritual care. Amen.
 
Thank you all for the prayers. I’ve been praying for intercession as well—at the very least for him to see his methodology does NOT inspire anyone to want to be part of anything.

He did announce this morning that while the Mass schedule for weekdays is changing, the school Mass will remain. 👍 Still his actions are bizarre. I had a tough time listening to his sermon today as he talked about membership, parish, God, love thy neighbor. It was a great sermon in words, but his continuing deeds made the words hollow. Fortunately, I sat in the back this week (usually I’m up front) and because he’s short, and I had taller people in front of me, I didn’t have to see him. Even the entrance hymn–All are Welcome–I was like “ya, right”. :rolleyes:

I’m continuing to pray–the parishioner has just accepted that he is going to do what he does, and she’s trying to not let it define her or her faith. She and her parents have basically agreed that he was a jerk and to move forward. She’s making peace with it–following the motto: consider the source. It is hard, though, when you come to church and you look to someone expecting spirtual leadership and instead, you feel anger at this is the person who is representing our Lord.

Small miracles—someday, we’ll understand the WHY. . maybe
 
PATER NOSTER,
qui es in caelis,
sanctificetur nomen tuum.
Adveniat regnum tuum.
Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra.
Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie,
et dimitte nobis debita nostra
sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris.
Et ne nos inducas in tentationem,
sed libera nos a malo. Amen.
 
Thanks for the update! Continuing prayers for you and your parish. Good to hear about the children’s mass.

I know how hard it will be to sit through mass and listen to someone you’ve had issues with, but… Have you thought about moving back to the front? 😃 Perhaps seeing you and your friend front and center will touch and soften his own heart as he speaks the word of our Lord. . . Just a thought.

Blessed are you, loving Father,
Ruler of the universe:
You have given us Your Son as Your Leader,
And have made us temples of Your Holy Spirit.
Fill this family with Your light and peace.
Have mercy on all who suffer,
And bring us to everlasting joy with You.
Father,
We bless Your Name for ever and ever.
Amen.

O loving messenger of the Incarnation, descend upon all those for whom I wish peace and happiness. Spread your wings over the cradles of the new-born babes, O thou who didst announce the coming of the Infant Jesus.

Give to the young a lily petal from the virginal scepter in your hand. Cause the Ave Maria to re-echo in all hearts that they may find grace and joy through Mary.

Finally, recall the sublime words spoken on the day of the Annunciation-- “Nothing is impossible with God,” and repeat them in hours of trial–to all I love–that their confidence in Our Lord may be reanimated, when all human help fails. Amen
:signofcross:
 
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