Priestly form of address

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miklamar

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What titles do most priests have, in addition to the traditional “Father” title? How else may a priest be addressed? Can you give an example?:confused:
 
in conversation a priest is addressed as Father, or Father Smith, unless he gives permission to address him as Father John.

In correspondence, a letter is addressed to Rev. John Smith (with initials of his order if he belongs to one) and the letter salutation is Dear Father Smith.
 
We had a cathedral choir Christmas party back in the mid-80s in which the bishop popped in. Last time I had met a bishop was in 1967 when I was senior altar boy for my parish and met Abp. Hannan of New Orleans. I genuflected and kissed his ring then.

Remembering protocol, DW and I rose and I started to genuflect and kiss his ring…but Bishop Ott grabbed me and said that that wasn’t necessary. “Just call me Bishop”, he said. He and I were both alumni of a Catholic boy’s high school in New Orleans.
 
miklamar said:
What titles do most priests have, in addition to the traditional “Father” title? How else may a priest be addressed? Can you give an example?:confused:
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Archaic in Roman Rite, but still used extensively for Eastern Rite Priests: Reverend Father or Reverend Father Joe or Reverend Father Joe Hutzko, and in Roman use, Father Hutzko. For Byzantine Rite Catholic priests, it is normative to use first names, tho’ it’s not been uncommon to hear last names used.

Roman Permanent Deacons: written or indirect: Reverend Mister James Hostman, abbreviated Rev. Mr. James Hostman, directly Deacon Hostman or Deacon Jim. (My dad is the example I’ve used; he’s incardinated since Ordination in the Archdiocese of Anchorage.)
I read that Transitional Deacons have a different written form, but I can’t recall it specifically.

Byzantine Catholics…
Byzantine Catholic Deacons: Father Deacon ___, usually first name.
Byzantine Catholic Bishops: Father Bishop, Father Bishop William, Eparch William, Father Eparch William, Your Grace, in writing, The Most Reverend ___, with the salutation “Father Bishop, Bless!” or “Your Grace” (sometimes both). Note that Bishops are also “first name” or both fist and last. So It’s Bishop William or Bishop William Skurla, but not Bishop Skurla. Bishop Gerald of the Eparchy of Van Nuys actually spoke of that in Anchorage this year.

Eparch is interchangeable with Bishop, and Eparchy with Diocese.

Abouna is used in place of Father in many Arabic speaking communities.
 
I’ve gotten into the habit of refering to priests as “your reverence” via email, many of them are flattered and like it,
 
…Pretty well the same as everyone has said miklamar [in the english-speaking sector].

However there’s a slight twist in things in the french sector of the Archdiocese here . The priest who belongs to a religious order is referred to as Père (direct translation - “Father”).

On the other hand, the diocesan priests are referred to as l’Abbé or Monsieur l’Abbé. One translation of the word abbé is “abbot.” But I did have one priest explain to me that, in this instance Abbé is actually derived from the aramaic “Abba”; so in a sense it means “Father” too.

The following link would support his explanation:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abb%C3%A9
 
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