Priest leaves parish

  • Thread starter Thread starter Petermn
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
P

Petermn

Guest
Our priest is moving on. I know well that a priest is merely a vehicle to guide one to Chrsit. But there is a huge problem with that truth, ones gets very attached to a really good ‘man of God’ Our priest was a liberal open minded dear man. I became Catholic as a result of his guidance and his departure is very painful. As a divorced man I am at risk of feeling ‘left’ all over again. Our priest was very supportive during my bad times and although he was not a man I spent any personal time with his homelys were so inspired I dont feel anyone could replace him.
Isnt it sad when this happens…
I’m sure a new priest will bring a new dawn to the parish but sadly I doubt he could better the old one…
Peter
 
I know it’s sad, Peter, and troubling, but it’s a wrench for the priest also.
I hope you can feel that you can help to put your new priest at ease, with your welcome, among with others in the parish.
May God bless the good priest who is leaving, and may God grant him the kindness of welcome without comparison with others, as he is the gift now being given to your parish. He will be the more effective if he is kindly welcomed, as I’m sure you will, but it is hard to lose a familiar priest.

parishandfamily.ie/Parish/Parish_Renewal_Newsletter/363-a-change-of-parish-priest
 
Yes, it is natural to have some sense of loss and sorrow in these types of situations.

Fortunately, our faith in Christ is not dependent on any one individual. Jesus is always there and always the same. We may miss this priest for his personal witness or that priest for his inspiring words, but none of that alters the great saving message that Jesus came to save us from our sins.

What helps me is to think about all the good that priest will do for a whole new set of people. They will get to experience his wonderful witness because he now absent from my life. It’s an opportunity to share with our fellow Catholics. 👍
 
Just remember Sirach 9: 10] Forsake not an old friend,
for a new one does not compare with him.
A new friend is like new wine;
when it has aged you will drink it with pleasure.

All of that applies here. You can certainly stay in touch by getting his new address and writing or emailing from time to time, but ya also gotta remember that God has work for him elsewhere and perhaps there is much that the new pastor will bring to you as well. Be open and give him (and the Holy Spirit) a chance, okay?
 
I agree completely with the OP. When a good priest goes, it is like a divorce or death in the family. Our parish priest of 14 years passed away about 16 years ago and I still miss him and we still talk about him fondly. About every 6-12 years, they leave us, sadly. It made me think of Ralph Martin’s show on EWTN this morning talking about St. John of the Cross and his “dark night of the soul.” I know that change is good for our souls because God can work on the different aspects of each of us and we can grow in new areas with a new leader. Still, it’s painful like when your dad had to let go of the bike for the first time and you wiped out after a few yards of solo biking.

I still pray for our former priests regularly and for our current priest. They grow in their new assignments too.

Blessings,
Jennifer
 
Funny that this was posted today. I was talking with a lady this morning after Mass. She was saying that she heard from our Associate Pastor who left us in July. He told her he would like for us to come and see him soon at his new church. So we were making plans to go when our pastor walked in. He asked what we were discussing and we told him. He said he misses you all, but also needs to bond with his new parish family. I know what he meant and I know that he’s right. I was left wondering if we should still go and see him as planned or wait a while. He is trying to adjust to his new parish. He became attached to us because he is not American and we welcomed him and made sure he felt part of our parish. I helped him with anything he needed. I miss him and would like to see him soon. But now I don’t know if we would be just making it harder for him to adjust. Anyone have any advice??
 
Indeed when an inspiring and loving priest leaves, it creates a void. But this happens all the time. Nothing is forever, that’s just a fact of life. All we can do is to pray for the old and the new priests. Once a priest leaves, it is very hard to keep in touch. He will be busy with his new assignment and dedicating to his new flock. It is not he does not care about the previous congregation any more, it is practically hard to stay in close touch. I guess we have to learn detachment to overcome our sense of loss. It is hard, I know. But what else can we do other than being grateful for someone who made a difference in our lives once upon a time.
 
InLight247 said:
Indeed when an inspiring and loving priest leaves, it creates a void. But this happens all the time. Nothing is forever, that’s just a fact of life. All we can do is to pray for the old and the new priests. Once a priest leaves, it is very hard to keep in touch. He will be busy with his new assignment and dedicating to his new flock. It is not he does not care about the previous congregation any more, it is practically hard to stay in close touch. I guess we have to learn detachment to overcome our sense of loss. It is hard, I know. But what else can we do other than being grateful for someone who made a difference in our lives once upon a time.
Click to expand...
Well put. 👍

I think your point about detachment is good. Our faith should not be bound up in one human person, no matter how great they may be.

That doesn’t automatically make it easy in times of transition, of course. But we do the best we can.
 
Wonderful words friends - thank you.
I am trying to address my sadness by becoming more involved myself in the Christian comm lmunity in the town. I feel worried that the area may suffer as a result of the loss of such a very special individual and I wonder if I can is some part help.
You have been very supportive - Thank you
 
mercyangel said:
Funny that this was posted today. I was talking with a lady this morning after Mass. She was saying that she heard from our Associate Pastor who left us in July. He told her he would like for us to come and see him soon at his new church. So we were making plans to go when our pastor walked in. He asked what we were discussing and we told him. He said he misses you all, but also needs to bond with his new parish family. I know what he meant and I know that he’s right. I was left wondering if we should still go and see him as planned or wait a while. He is trying to adjust to his new parish. He became attached to us because he is not American and we welcomed him and made sure he felt part of our parish. I helped him with anything he needed. I miss him and would like to see him soon. But now I don’t know if we would be just making it harder for him to adjust. Anyone have any advice??
Click to expand...
A short visit from a few friendly faces, might be just what he needs right now, especially if he is a new priest and not used to the moving around part of the job. Keep it brief and on general topics and I’m sure it would brighten his day.
 
Could be God’s way of helping the priest to grow in new ways, and you, and his new parishioners.
 
Catholic1954 said:
A short visit from a few friendly faces, might be just what he needs right now, especially if he is a new priest and not used to the moving around part of the job. Keep it brief and on general topics and I’m sure it would brighten his day.
Click to expand...
I agree. A short visit will mean a lot to him. It shows your friendship and support.
 
Petermn said:
Our priest is moving on. I know well that a priest is merely a vehicle to guide one to Chrsit. But there is a huge problem with that truth, ones gets very attached to a really good ‘man of God’ Our priest was a liberal open minded dear man. I became Catholic as a result of his guidance and his departure is very painful. As a divorced man I am at risk of feeling ‘left’ all over again. Our priest was very supportive during my bad times and although he was not a man I spent any personal time with his homelys were so inspired I dont feel anyone could replace him.
Isnt it sad when this happens…
I’m sure a new priest will bring a new dawn to the parish but sadly I doubt he could better the old one…
Peter
Click to expand...
Being an ex-Mormon, I’ve got a lot of residual anxiety about the loss of a priest from the loss of so many good Missionary friends. In regards to this separation anxiety, I have found much comfort in Chapter 6 of “Uniformity to God’s Will” by Saint Alphonsus de Liguori. You can read it online for free, and I would highly recommend it if you’ve got a free afternoon one Sunday. Here’s the opening line to Chapter 6 - “Spiritual Desolation”:
We ought to view in the light of God’s holy will, the loss of persons who are helpful to us in a spiritual or material way. Pious souls often fail in this respect by not being resigned to the dispositions of God’s holy will. Our sanctification comes fundamentally and essentially from God, not from spiritual directors. When God sends us a spiritual director, he wishes us to use him for our spiritual profit; but if he takes him away, he wants us to remain calm and unperturbed and to increase our confidence in his goodness by saying to him: “Lord, thou hast given me this help and now thou dost take it away. Blessed be thy holy will! I beg thee, teach me what I must do to serve thee.”
Click to expand...
 
I can sure sympathize! This might be a little controversial in some circles, but I firmly believe good priests NEED good, well-ordered spiritual friendships among the laity. Your friendship with your former pastor may not be as close as it used to be, but that doesn’t mean it has to end altogether. “Adopt” your priest in prayer & sacrifice. If he’s open to it, stay in touch with Christmas & birthday cards, & the occasional prayer card. He may not be able to acknowledge these, but he’s sure to appreciate them. If you & this priest remain in the same diocese you’re sure to run into one another now & again. I know of an elderly priest in my own diocese, a very holy man, who holds regular, annual “reunions” for former parishioners who touched his life & helped him to grow in his priesthood.
 
A priest new to our parish offered this a few weeks after his arrival:

Begin praying for your next priest now. Pray that he will have the experiences and the support that he needs currently to prepare him to step into this Church in a few years’ time.

Pray for the priest who left, that his new parish will welcome him and support him.

Pray for me, that I can be the priest you need and deserve.

Although it was a surprising sentiment from one a few weeks in, it does make sense. And it tells that it is a tough time for everyone . . .:rolleyes:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top