What exactly is retirement for priests?

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What exactly is accurately described as “retired” for retired priests? From my understanding, retired priests that are still physically capable still say Masses, hear confessions, and are involved in ministries. A retired priest I met today for example is going to a hospital on Monday.
When I hear the word “retired” I usually associate that with an end to working. But in the case of priests that isn’t case, so what is retirement for a priest?
And would retired priests have a different kind of retirement if we didn’t have a priest shortage?
 
My spiritual director is a retired priest. He does not have a parish anymore but as well as doing spiritual direction he leads retreats and does supply work when a parish priest is away or sick. The former Bishop for the Diocese does supply work as well.
One retired Bishop I know took on a parish after his retirement, acting as the parish priest.
Another parish has two elderly priests who split the work between them.
Having said that there is a retirement home for clergy in my Diocese, so ultimately it depends on the health of the individual priest.
I imagine if there were more priests then the retired would be able to take more of a back seat, although most I have met seem determined to do as much as possible for as long as possible.
 
I agree. The retired priests I know seem to have retired from the responsibilities of running a parish and focus on the sacraments, spiritual direction, visiting the sick, and other activities they find fulfilling.
 
My own pastor emeritus (yes, that is his official title) still offers Mass and preaches in rotation at the parish as well as goes on trips to other parishes as requested by Bp. Lopes or other priests to give advice regarding the ordinariate or to fill in as needed. Knowing him, he has no intention of stopping offering Mass as long as he is able.
 
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A deacon, priest, or bishop does not retire from his clerical state, unless suspended or removed for some disciplinary reason. A diocesan bishop is required to submit his resignation at age 75, but remains an emeritus bishop. A parish priest will usually retire and draw his pension, but usually retains his priestly faculties; can still say Mass, hear confessions, as long as he is able. It is perhaps correct to say that a priest retires from administrative work, but not from the priesthood itself.
 
We had a beloved priest who passed away 7 months after his retirement. He’d battled leukemia for 4 years. What he planned on doing during his retirement was to help any of the local priests who needed it and to stay in touch with his parishioners (us). Sadly, his final battle with leukemia kept that from happening.
 
A retired priest is usually not a vicar, right? (responsible for a parish).

A 94-year-old priest I knew celebrated Mass and heard confessions at the home for elderly where he lived. Writing books until the end. He did that until a couple of months before he passed away. Two sisters, more or less, lifted him up to the altar when mass begun as he had some physical problems due to old age but his brains were as sharp as ever.

The Catholic priests I know, would continue serving as priests until their last breaths if they are physically and mentally able to.
 
We have a retired priest who hears confession, says Mass at our parish and others, offers last rites, and does activity in the community. He doesn’t have the burden of running anything. It is a real blessing to have him.
 
Retired priests seem to be the first ones called when a parish needs help. I wonder if that’s all they do all day- go around helping understaffed parishes. Is there any time for golfing and painting pictures of fruit?
 
mVitus said:
And would retired priests have a different kind of retirement if we didn’t have a priest shortage?
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Probably not.

Most retired priests don’t have a large nest egg or anything. Some live in the Old Priests Home, other are “in residence” at a rectory, particularly if they spent a long time at their last duty station, still others go to the house of their particular religious order.

Even back in the 1960’s, I remember retired priests helping out and all of that.
 
We had a retired priest at our parish until he passed away. He asked specifically to move into the rectory with our parish priest (they were friends) for his retirement and would help out in various ways. The retired father would also go spend a month or two with his brother and sister-in-law in another state a few times a year.
 
I agree. Our priest once said most priest will “die with their boots on?” He was referring to retired priests. He told us most priest serve as long as they can. I have seen that in action.
 
Retirement means the end of administrative work, unless asked to assist in something.

Too often we think of “retired” as no longer having a job. Being a priest is not a “job”, it is a vocation - so also is marriage; and at whatever age, one does not retire from the vocation.

Which is not to exclude professed religious, who may live in community. They may reach an age where a “job” (e.g. teaching) may no longer be required; but likely they will still be part of the community, and attend LOTH and Mass.
 
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