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theweeper
Guest
okay i dont mean to sound rude. i really just dont know. do they pray all the time? meetings? what?
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ukdal1
Guest
I’ve always wondered the same thing…I’d say they do pray, but I’d say they visit the sick and our priests are involved at our school. Also, they probably meet with Church parishioners for meetings and hear Confessions…stuff like that,I would guess
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LilyM
Guest
A number of 'em do have full-time jobs (or nearly) y’know - they may be teachers, counsellors, social workers, writers and speakers … one of our most prominent human rights lawyers in Australia is a Jesuit priest, Fr Frank Brennan.
Then again, most of their time can also be occupied with the day-to-day administrative running of whatever parish or community they are in. Bills don’t pay themselves, the banking doesn’t do itself, letters and other necessary paperwork doesn’t write itself, cleaners don’t hire and organise themselves …
there may be some staff to help, but there’s always more needs doing than there are office staff to do it, so the priests have to do a lot themselves.
Then again, most of their time can also be occupied with the day-to-day administrative running of whatever parish or community they are in. Bills don’t pay themselves, the banking doesn’t do itself, letters and other necessary paperwork doesn’t write itself, cleaners don’t hire and organise themselves …
there may be some staff to help, but there’s always more needs doing than there are office staff to do it, so the priests have to do a lot themselves.
C
chicago
Guest
I think that the key aspect to a priest’s ministry is to be constantly “availble” for those in need.
What any particular priest does in a day will depend upon his actual ministry (is he a pastor, a teacher, an adminsitrator?) and any number of concerns at play. He will likely have daily Mass and is required to pray the Divine Office. A parish priest probably has some business matters to tend to, some meetings with parishioners (or other priests or with the diocese or community leaders), perhaps something that comes up at the school. He likely tries to do some personal things. He may be athletic and out finding time to play sports, walk, jog. There are always sick calls, funerals, wedding preparations, visits to those in need. He may have some involvement in other things that have to be attended to. Or he may have a day where there isn’t much of anything to be done and he just does whatever he must and wants.
Really, asking the question, “What does a priest do all day?” is sort of like asking, “What does a worker do all day” or “What does a housewife do all day?” It can be difficult to describe as any given day is different. Ultimately, they do what they must do as appropriate to their state in life and vocation, however it comes in different ways on a daily basis, considering that each and every day is different.
What any particular priest does in a day will depend upon his actual ministry (is he a pastor, a teacher, an adminsitrator?) and any number of concerns at play. He will likely have daily Mass and is required to pray the Divine Office. A parish priest probably has some business matters to tend to, some meetings with parishioners (or other priests or with the diocese or community leaders), perhaps something that comes up at the school. He likely tries to do some personal things. He may be athletic and out finding time to play sports, walk, jog. There are always sick calls, funerals, wedding preparations, visits to those in need. He may have some involvement in other things that have to be attended to. Or he may have a day where there isn’t much of anything to be done and he just does whatever he must and wants.
Really, asking the question, “What does a priest do all day?” is sort of like asking, “What does a worker do all day” or “What does a housewife do all day?” It can be difficult to describe as any given day is different. Ultimately, they do what they must do as appropriate to their state in life and vocation, however it comes in different ways on a daily basis, considering that each and every day is different.
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jpjd
Guest
This was discussed in the Vocations forum in the thread “Questions about priests.”
I have copied here what my post was in that thread:
"I know that in my diocese, priests take one day off during the week, and they get 2 weeks of vacation per year plus a one-week mandatory retreat.
My parish priest starts his day with daily Mass, and if it’s a First Friday he starts the Eucharistic Adoration then hears confessions, and late afternoon does the Benediction. On any given day, he spends the day doing pastoral visits, meeting in person or on the phone with parishoners who need to talk to him, going downtown to various diocesan meetings, working on various administrative tasks, preparing his homily, and attending meetings for things like the Soup Kitchen, St. Vincent de Paul, etc, and much more that I’m sure I’m not aware of.
Depending on the day of the week, in the early evening he has Parish Council meeting, K of C meeting, evening Mass, or RCIA.
He tries to end his day by 9:00pm so that he has personal time for himself. Of course priests have time to workout, read, and travel. They’re human and need down time just like everyone else."
I have copied here what my post was in that thread:
"I know that in my diocese, priests take one day off during the week, and they get 2 weeks of vacation per year plus a one-week mandatory retreat.
My parish priest starts his day with daily Mass, and if it’s a First Friday he starts the Eucharistic Adoration then hears confessions, and late afternoon does the Benediction. On any given day, he spends the day doing pastoral visits, meeting in person or on the phone with parishoners who need to talk to him, going downtown to various diocesan meetings, working on various administrative tasks, preparing his homily, and attending meetings for things like the Soup Kitchen, St. Vincent de Paul, etc, and much more that I’m sure I’m not aware of.
Depending on the day of the week, in the early evening he has Parish Council meeting, K of C meeting, evening Mass, or RCIA.
He tries to end his day by 9:00pm so that he has personal time for himself. Of course priests have time to workout, read, and travel. They’re human and need down time just like everyone else."
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Sina
Guest
I’ve always wondered how priests deal with how busy their schedules are! I know they meet with parishioners during the week, prepare the homilies, prepare for sacraments, attend meetings like Catholic Women’s League or what have you…
At my church, there are 3 weddings a week, and 5 sunday masses.
At my church, there are 3 weddings a week, and 5 sunday masses.
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Sr_Sally
Guest
I assume you mean a parish priest and not one who has another specific responsibility (ie, teacher, author, etc.)
First, all priests are required to say the Divine Office every day. I have never said the whole thing, but I imagine that all the prayer sections added together wuold take a few hours (2? 3?). Then they may also say other prayers/devotions. Priests often also say Mass every day.
Our parish has 20,000 some odd members, so I’m sure every day there are pastoral visits, questions, counseling that the priests do. They are also involved with the various ministries of the church as another poster stated–Knights, Legion of Mary, etc. Last night our Pastor spent about 2 hours visiting CCD classes just as an example.
And then of course there is the administration of the parish itself–bills, etc. And requirements they have to the diocese for meetings, etc.
I’m sure you will find some priests who seems to do less than others, and other priests who may be busy, busy but perhaps not have the priorities you’d like. They are human and bring the same strengths and weakness to their work that we all do.
Please, please pray for your priest and all priests. They have an incredibly difficult job and will be held to an account higher than the rest of us at the judgement!
First, all priests are required to say the Divine Office every day. I have never said the whole thing, but I imagine that all the prayer sections added together wuold take a few hours (2? 3?). Then they may also say other prayers/devotions. Priests often also say Mass every day.
Our parish has 20,000 some odd members, so I’m sure every day there are pastoral visits, questions, counseling that the priests do. They are also involved with the various ministries of the church as another poster stated–Knights, Legion of Mary, etc. Last night our Pastor spent about 2 hours visiting CCD classes just as an example.
And then of course there is the administration of the parish itself–bills, etc. And requirements they have to the diocese for meetings, etc.
I’m sure you will find some priests who seems to do less than others, and other priests who may be busy, busy but perhaps not have the priorities you’d like. They are human and bring the same strengths and weakness to their work that we all do.
Please, please pray for your priest and all priests. They have an incredibly difficult job and will be held to an account higher than the rest of us at the judgement!
P
puzzleannie
Guest
most priests in this diocese have multiple responsibilities, in addition to their parish, such as several missions, or a diocesan office, jail or hospital chaplain, with the seminary or lay ministry institute, directorship of diocesan department, very few have nothing more than one parish to look after.
typical schedule comparing the workdays of several pastors I have known:
wake between 4 and 5 for prayer, get some productive writing or other work done before the workday begins
6 or 7 - morning Mass
breakfast, check messages, answer e-mail, plan day
8 - those with diocesan positions have meetings at the pastoral center many days, at least once a week with the bishop, or have to maintain office hours in the diocesan office part of each day dealing with those concerns.
or parish staff meetings
rest of the morning -returning calls, appointments, visits with hospitalized parishioners, Mass at the nursing homes or prisons, pastoral care visits
funerals
meeting with service and maintenance people to do repairs and such on parish property–very few have a full time staff member to handle such things.
noon-often a working lunch meeting or transition to afternoon commitments,
1-5 similar to the morning
taping radio and TV interviews for public TV
media relations and interviews with mass media on topics in the news that impact the Church and the diocese
visits to parish school
Mass with school children
working with volunteers in various apostolates too numerous to mention, at least 20 I can think of off the top of my head that require at least monthly oversight and meetings with the pastor.
dinner, again often a working meal
meetings with fellow priests by deanery or diocesan work assignment
regular retreat days
evening - meeting with religious education students and catechists, confirmation classes etc.
RCIA
parish meetings, again commissions to numerous to list
community meetings such as for social justice or social action, pro-life outreach, inter-faith groups
funeral home wake services etc.
pastoral visits with those who work during the day–those needing pastoral counselling, engaged couples, troubled marriages etc.
sometime during this he has to take care of the same personal concerns we all have–household maintenance, cooking, car upkeep, doctor appts (very few have housekeepers any more), and any personal leisure and fitness activities–bicycling, birding, hiking, jogging, whatever.
weekends are the busiest times with not only the Mass and confession schedule, but funerals, weddings, quinceneras, CCD and RCIA classes that meet on weekends, requiring at least occasional visits, including Sunday afternoon social or RE events that require his presence. few priests get Sunday afternoons off completely, and if they do use it to socialize with friends and family.
typical schedule comparing the workdays of several pastors I have known:
wake between 4 and 5 for prayer, get some productive writing or other work done before the workday begins
6 or 7 - morning Mass
breakfast, check messages, answer e-mail, plan day
8 - those with diocesan positions have meetings at the pastoral center many days, at least once a week with the bishop, or have to maintain office hours in the diocesan office part of each day dealing with those concerns.
or parish staff meetings
rest of the morning -returning calls, appointments, visits with hospitalized parishioners, Mass at the nursing homes or prisons, pastoral care visits
funerals
meeting with service and maintenance people to do repairs and such on parish property–very few have a full time staff member to handle such things.
noon-often a working lunch meeting or transition to afternoon commitments,
1-5 similar to the morning
taping radio and TV interviews for public TV
media relations and interviews with mass media on topics in the news that impact the Church and the diocese
visits to parish school
Mass with school children
working with volunteers in various apostolates too numerous to mention, at least 20 I can think of off the top of my head that require at least monthly oversight and meetings with the pastor.
dinner, again often a working meal
meetings with fellow priests by deanery or diocesan work assignment
regular retreat days
evening - meeting with religious education students and catechists, confirmation classes etc.
RCIA
parish meetings, again commissions to numerous to list
community meetings such as for social justice or social action, pro-life outreach, inter-faith groups
funeral home wake services etc.
pastoral visits with those who work during the day–those needing pastoral counselling, engaged couples, troubled marriages etc.
sometime during this he has to take care of the same personal concerns we all have–household maintenance, cooking, car upkeep, doctor appts (very few have housekeepers any more), and any personal leisure and fitness activities–bicycling, birding, hiking, jogging, whatever.
weekends are the busiest times with not only the Mass and confession schedule, but funerals, weddings, quinceneras, CCD and RCIA classes that meet on weekends, requiring at least occasional visits, including Sunday afternoon social or RE events that require his presence. few priests get Sunday afternoons off completely, and if they do use it to socialize with friends and family.
M
mainusch
Guest
I wonder how Priests can do all they do in the extremely limited time they have. My brother-in-law is a Priest, and whenever he can attend family functions, he usually is crashed on the couch pretty quickly. Poor guy’s run ragged.
We don’t have enough Priests to serve their necessary roles.
Please pray for more!
We don’t have enough Priests to serve their necessary roles.
Please pray for more!
L
Lovemyfaith
Guest
In my parish the priests take turns, one week on, one week off. There are three. We have two daily masses that they celebrate. There is usually a funeral or two during the week. Communion calls are done, for the most part, by EMHC’s. Other than that, they are never at the school, but one sits in the office while PREP classes are going on. We have a funeral team who meets with families to discuss funeral arrangements. We have an office staff of at least 10, not including the school/PREP staff, so not many office duties to worry about either. A deacon comes for Novena once a week. I think the pastor spend a lot of time thinking of ways to beautify the church/rectory. The other two, I am not sure what they occupy their time with.
I know priests who work full time jobs, with the diocese and still run entire parishes on their own. I know priests who teach full time and still celebrate mass everyday and do hospital visits. I know elderly priests who are still working more than they aren’t. I am not sure who the patron saint of priests is, but any priest who is looking for early retirement should pray to him to be transferred here.
I know priests who work full time jobs, with the diocese and still run entire parishes on their own. I know priests who teach full time and still celebrate mass everyday and do hospital visits. I know elderly priests who are still working more than they aren’t. I am not sure who the patron saint of priests is, but any priest who is looking for early retirement should pray to him to be transferred here.
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theweeper
Guest
well you learn something new everyday
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chicago
Guest
Well, yes, there are absolutely priests who are pretty lazy, also. The typically canard has to do with how they spend too much time on the golf course.
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OutinChgoburbs
Guest
I know a good many priests who fit puzzleannie’s very detailed description, and a couple who fit the “lazy cannard”.
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puzzleannie
Guest
forgot to add mandatory recitation of the divine office, an hour before the Blessed Sacrament every day, and editing and overseeing production of materials published by the diocese for use by parish and diocesan staff. Also forgot to add oversight of a grass roots community organization with small faith communities working for the rights of the poor.
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fellowChristian
Guest
Did anyone mention Blessing Homes?
Helping arranging Weddings?
Visiting families and maybe having dinner with them?
Helping arranging Weddings?
Visiting families and maybe having dinner with them?
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ddeluna
Guest
Our pastor is also the chaplain for the police dept. and goes on ride-alongs with the cops (it’s a release for him, I’m sure), but he’s at the police dept often.
We seem to have an inordinately larger than normal number of funerals all of which require meetings with families, visits to the funeral home, leading the rosary, then the funeral mass, but before that, time spent writing a homily.
Our pastor is on the diocean presbyteral council and a consultor to the bishop. He’s at the diocean offices at least twice a week for more than a few hours each visit and it takes half hour to get there.
As we only have one priest, no deacons, he does all the interfviews for baptisms, annulments, etc.
And of course all the liturgical duties previously mentioned, and other stuff too.
Oh, and I regularly bump into him at the grocery store. Because of the junk I often see in his cart, I and others often take him to a meal.
We seem to have an inordinately larger than normal number of funerals all of which require meetings with families, visits to the funeral home, leading the rosary, then the funeral mass, but before that, time spent writing a homily.
Our pastor is on the diocean presbyteral council and a consultor to the bishop. He’s at the diocean offices at least twice a week for more than a few hours each visit and it takes half hour to get there.
As we only have one priest, no deacons, he does all the interfviews for baptisms, annulments, etc.
And of course all the liturgical duties previously mentioned, and other stuff too.
Oh, and I regularly bump into him at the grocery store. Because of the junk I often see in his cart, I and others often take him to a meal.
M
MH84
Guest
Pretty good sum up I reckon
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