Why are priests always in a hurry?

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cccw2009

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I don’t know if this goes for all priests but my pastor always seems to rush to the alter and dissapear after each Mass. Anyone else’s pastor does this? Not trying to make a big deal out of this, although I do find it kind of cold and unfriendly to just hurry and disappear. And I go to the last Mass on Sundays so I know he doesn’t have to get ready for another Mass. If I wanted to talk to him, I have to bassically stand in front of the church like a guard dog! Not trying to make something out of nothing, just curious why Catholic pastors can’t just spend a little more time after Mass with his congregation.
 
cccw2009 said:
I don’t know if this goes for all priests but my pastor always seems to rush to the alter and dissapear after each Mass. Anyone else’s pastor does this? Not trying to make a big deal out of this, although I do find it kind of cold and unfriendly to just hurry and disappear. And I go to the last Mass on Sundays so I know he doesn’t have to get ready for another Mass. If I wanted to talk to him, I have to bassically stand in front of the church like a guard dog! Not trying to make something out of nothing, just curious why Catholic pastors can’t just spend a little more time after Mass with his congregation.
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Yet another thread criticizing our holy priests. Will it never end?
 
I’m almost never on this forum and don’t know what is going on, I’m just asking an innocent question.
 
cccw2009 said:
I’m almost never on this forum and don’t know what is going on, I’m just asking an innocent question.
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ANd being most uncharitable in your assumptions. Your claim that your priest “rushes out after mass” and then immediately assume all priests do. This is evident in the title of your thread. I suggest you have a little bit more sympathy for your priest as he does a job with heavy responsibility, long hours, and little pay.
 
I don’t know about your priest but our local OF priest has another parish to get over to for a Mass there and its about 15 miles away. He does stick around to say “Hi” after Mass but not very long.

Perhaps your priest has a heavy work schedule too.
 
corsair said:
I don’t know about your priest but our local OF priest has another parish to get over to for a Mass there and its about 15 miles away. He does stick around to say “Hi” after Mass but not very long.

Perhaps your priest has a heavy work schedule too.
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Thanks for your simple answer to my simple question.
 
The problem with questions like this is that no one can give a definitive answer. Everything is speculation. Instead of posting such questions online and appearing to be ranting, why not ask the priest himself? corsair gave one very good example of a number of possibilities why some priests tend to be in a rush.
 
cccw2009 said:
I don’t know if this goes for all priests but my pastor always seems to rush to the alter and dissapear after each Mass. Anyone else’s pastor does this? Not trying to make a big deal out of this, although I do find it kind of cold and unfriendly to just hurry and disappear. And I go to the last Mass on Sundays so I know he doesn’t have to get ready for another Mass. If I wanted to talk to him, I have to bassically stand in front of the church like a guard dog! Not trying to make something out of nothing, just curious why Catholic pastors can’t just spend a little more time after Mass with his congregation.
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Maybe he has an appointment to be somewhere. Particularly if there are few priests in your parish, he may have a very busy schedule.

If you want to speak with him, is there a phone # you could call to make an appointment that would fit into both of your schedules?

It’s best not to jump to any negative conclusions based on only what you see. There is much in his life and schedule that you do not see. Be kind, and go the extra step to visit with him. He will make time for you, even if you don’t have anything particular that you want to discuss. And maybe at that meeting you can ask him about what prompts him to have to leave so quickly following mass. That may help you to feel better.

Hope
 
My priest has 3 parishes, so sometimes he is in a hurry to get to the next town, and get ready for the next mass. There are some masses where he does not have to hurry, such as Saturday night or the last Mass on Sunday, he shakes hands and visits with everyone. I find that after daily mass is the best time to talk to a priest, he usually has a few minutes to visit, bless sacramentals and answer any spiritual questions.

We do have to remember priests are very busy. They teach classes, visit nursing homes, council couples for wedding preparation, council people for other problems, confession and more.

If you have something you need to talk to your priest about, it may be best to call and make an appointment.
 
Our pastor, who died this past All Saints’ Day, would greet us after each Mass, unless he had to suspend the time he was in the confessional to start Mass and needed to allow the people who had been waiting to confess. He would then tell us before he began the homily,“I’m sorry I won’t be able to chat after Mass, but I will be in the confessional for those who did not get to confess before Mass.” God give him rest.
 
It is NOT a bad question to ask…it is an honest question and I don’t think anyone should take any offense to your asking. I know that our poor priests are overwhelmed at times and the weekend mass schedule is usually some of their busiest times. A smart priest knows how to gauge his needs and when his person is worn down. This may be part as to what is happening. Also, some priest’s personalities aren’t as social. Whatever the case, I would suggest trying to set up a private meeting with your priest - one-on-one- in order to get to know him better. Also, it would be a good idea to put together a list of all the “burning questions” or subjects you would like to discuss with him.

Christ’s flock needs their priests desperately. Our deeper need is that WE NEED GOD. So your wanting to chit-chat with your priest is a good thing. Good luck with everything and hope this helps.

Caritas, stteresasgirl
 
No criticism here. My pastor is great but he does the same thing at the parish I go to. Right after he gives his announcements to the congregation he escapes unless he’s actually the priest residing at mass. I know he’s a busy man though and often has things to do even on Sundays.
 
And if we want others to be charitable, we must exibit charity ourselves…It is only Christ-like.

Peace,
stteresasgirl
 
Priests do have other obligations besides celebrating Mass. 😉

As someone else said, it’s impossible to generalize as I’m sure every priest’s schedule is a bit different, but I would say that simply because there is no other later Mass at your parish doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a regular committment. Perhaps he needs to take Communion to the homebound. Perhaps he says Mass at a local prison. Perhaps he needs to stop by the local hospital to visit the sick. It could be any one of a number of things.
 
cccw2009 said:
I don’t know if this goes for all priests but my pastor always seems to rush to the alter and dissapear after each Mass. Anyone else’s pastor does this? Not trying to make a big deal out of this, although I do find it kind of cold and unfriendly to just hurry and disappear. And I go to the last Mass on Sundays so I know he doesn’t have to get ready for another Mass. If I wanted to talk to him, I have to bassically stand in front of the church like a guard dog! Not trying to make something out of nothing, just curious why Catholic pastors can’t just spend a little more time after Mass with his congregation.
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**The primary answer is that there are too few men who are brave enough to give up everything to become a priest because we Catholics are too weak to stand up to the evils of the world, the flesh & the devil.

Because we are not courageous enough to encourage & support those who would become priests, they are overwhelmed with paperwork & administrative duties which interfere with their primary purpose to be “In persona Christi.”

Some day soon, we will eternally regret our cowardice, when there are no priests to bring us the Most Holy Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist.

Support & help your priest, for without him, we cannot receive Jesus in the Eucharist!
**
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, Ora Pro Nobis Peccatoribus!

mark
 
cccw2009 said:
I don’t know if this goes for all priests but my pastor always seems to rush to the alter and dissapear after each Mass. Anyone else’s pastor does this? Not trying to make a big deal out of this, although I do find it kind of cold and unfriendly to just hurry and disappear. And I go to the last Mass on Sundays so I know he doesn’t have to get ready for another Mass. If I wanted to talk to him, I have to bassically stand in front of the church like a guard dog! Not trying to make something out of nothing, just curious why Catholic pastors can’t just spend a little more time after Mass with his congregation.
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I think it also depends upon your definition of “wanting to talk to him”. If you have something very pressing to talk to your priest about, standing outside of mass is not the time or place to do so. I’ve seen people at my parish try to corner the priest about issues that shouldn’t even be discussed in public, let alone right after mass.

Our priest greet everyone after mass, shakes their hands and that’s really all I need at the time of the day. If I need to carry on a conversation with the priest or take up time away from him being able to greet the other parishoners, I make an appointment to see him.
 
cccw2009 said:
I don’t know if this goes for all priests but my pastor always seems to rush to the alter and dissapear after each Mass. Anyone else’s pastor does this? Not trying to make a big deal out of this, although I do find it kind of cold and unfriendly to just hurry and disappear. And I go to the last Mass on Sundays so I know he doesn’t have to get ready for another Mass. If I wanted to talk to him, I have to bassically stand in front of the church like a guard dog! Not trying to make something out of nothing, just curious why Catholic pastors can’t just spend a little more time after Mass with his congregation.
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Well, I cant speak for your priest, but if it were me and I had spent the past 6 - 7 hours saying masses, preparing for mass, greeting parishioners, and all the other miscellaneous things that he has to do, I would be a bit reticent as well.

I am not saying that it would be the correct thing to do, but it would probably happen.
 
So you’ve already been told to be a little more charitable.

Our priests are on the go 24/7. And they do make a few moments after Mass, especially on Sunday, but during the week they have other obligations–pastoral visits, paperwork, appointments with parishioners, visiting hospitals and geriatric care centers. If we had to do what they do in a week, well, we would need two weeks.

If you need to speak with him, call and make an appointment. I’m sure he’ll make the time. Then be nice to him. A little charity goes a long way.
 
Once again, someone asks a simple question, and then… :slapfight:

Just kidding, folks! 🙂 Lots of good answers here!
 
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