Why does the Church move priests around?

[Like]

Hi BlestOne,
I agree with submitting to the authority of the bishop to move his priests around as he see fit but, the question is why is this being done every 2 to 3 years in all parishes in the diocese? I hope this is not everywhere but is in the diocese of Honolulu. I did submit this question in an email to the diocese today, hopefully they will answer.

I did get an answer from the diocese. It seems we do have a priest shortage for Hawaii & many are on loan from other diocese on the mainland, also, I believe several from the Philippines as we have/had several in our own parish. And most are only here for 3 - 5 years.
However I can’t speak for the shortage of priest on the mainland.

 

[KatieD]

I believe in my archdiocese pastors are assigned to a parish for six years and can renew for a total of 12. I believe it is the same for associate pastors. We have a priest from Europe who will be leaving for another parish. Apparently in order to become “incardinated,” or a diocesan priest in this country, he is required to serve at two or three parishes in a rather short amount of time. That’s really unfortunate, because he is absolutely one of the best priests I have ever met. Some of us will probably end up attending Mass at his new parish fairly frequently.

On the other hand, there is a nearby parish that has had a pastor for longer than 12 years. For some reason, he has been allowed to stay there - which is fine, because having attended Mass there, I’m not even sure it’s Catholic at this point!

 

[puzzleannie]

we may all have our own opinions about these policies in general, or as applied in our own diocese. The fact remains the bishop is the only one with the knowledge of the individual priests, the parishes, and the needs and condition of the entire diocese. he is the only one with the authority to make these assignments, and he is the only one who has pastoral responsibility to make these decisions. He is required to explain his decisions to no one. It is impossible for anyone here, unless they have actually served as a bishop, to fully comprehend his reasons for these decisions, and to monday morning quarterback is presumptuous and arrogant IMO.

 

[maryalene]

I think priests in our diocese generally serve for 6 years in a parish but can stay on for another 6 years if they would like.

I don’t know if it’s the “official” reason, but I was always taught that priests were moved around to avoid the possibility of a cult of personality in any parish. Since the priest should not be our main focus, moving priests around ensures that people don’t get too attached to anyone in particular. On the flip side, I can see where moving priests ensures that those parishes with a less than stellar shephard aren’t stuck with that person indefinately.

 

[hilde_the_dog]

In our parish this happens every year in the beginning of June. So I expect one of our three priests to be reassigned. But a few months ago the Bishop take our priest in residence and moved him to be a pastor at another church that needed leaership.

Our Pastor calls this the “angel of death”. And every year after the mass is over when he annouces the reassignments there is an audible “gasp”. We think he might be going because the Bishop will be at Mass next week, eeck and I’m reading.

 

[stbruno]

In our archdiocese, we have a priest placement board that goes to the parish that will be needing a pastor to find out what the parish requires. They will actually hold an inquiry session which is open to the congregration to voice their opinions. Then they will try to make several matches to the needs of the parish and then give the list to the bishop/cardinal to make the ultimate decision. In a sense there is a role for the parish at large to voice their concerns. Some parishes need an ethnic priest, or a bilingual pastor…some require one that is willing to be part of a bldg or expansion plan…etc.

Associate pastors are made with the discretion of the sitting pastor and the priest placement board, who then submit a list to the cardinal.
Usually the changes are made at the end of the fiscal year. June 30th annually. All assignments then are announced in our diocesan newspaper.

 

[Digitonomy]

In our archdiocese, we have a priest placement board that goes to the parish that will be needing a pastor to find out what the parish requires. They will actually hold an inquiry session which is open to the congregration to voice their opinions.

How is it handled if the current pastor is requesting transfer to a parish where there is an opening a year or two before his assignment at the current parish is finished? If his request is not granted, he would stay as pastor at the current church. In such a situation, it wouldn’t be such a good idea for a placement board to stir up rumors that the pastor wants to leave.

 

[Like]

How is it handled if the current pastor is requesting transfer to a parish where there is an opening a year or two before his assignment at the current parish is finished? If his request is not granted, he would stay as pastor at the current church. In such a situation, it wouldn’t be such a good idea for a placement board to stir up rumors that the pastor wants to leave.

Why would the placement board do that, in the 1st. place and suppose the said priest had already told the congregation his reason for his request to transfer to the other parish? The could be any number of reason for his wanting to transfer, such as close to his family’s home.

 

[Like]

In our archdiocese, we have a priest placement board that goes to the parish that will be needing a pastor to find out what the parish requires. They will actually hold an inquiry session which is open to the congregration to voice their opinions. Then they will try to make several matches to the needs of the parish and then give the list to the bishop/cardinal to make the ultimate decision. In a sense there is a role for the parish at large to voice their concerns. Some parishes need an ethnic priest, or a bilingual pastor…some require one that is willing to be part of a bldg or expansion plan…etc.

Associate pastors are made with the discretion of the sitting pastor and the priest placement board, who then submit a list to the cardinal.
Usually the changes are made at the end of the fiscal year. June 30th annually. All assignments then are announced in our diocesan newspaper.

I like that plan, of course I acknowledge that the diocese or bishop holds no explanation for his decisions but, I think the parishioners would feel more involved in the process.

 

[Digitonomy]

Why would the placement board do that

The placement board would do that simply by holding the hearings stbruno described, in the hypothetical I described. Hence my question about how it was handled.

 

[Like]

Hence my question about how it was handled./quote
OK, I think I was confused because I didn’t note a question mark (?) except in the 1st. sentence.
Sorry:shrug:

 

[Zooey]

What does a church do if there is no pastor “to be supplied”? Do they at least provide different ministers on Sundays to lead services, or do you have to find another church to attend on Sunday until a pastor is supplied?

Sometimes, you can find a retired pastor (even if from another denomination) to fill in. Sometimes, lay people speak & you have singing & then you have to go to another church for Holy Communion. (And to have children baptized, & the like…)
Other times, you might alternate…A pastor might come once a month or so, & the rest of the time, you’re on your own.
A lot of churches manage to find someone to fill in, maybe a seminary student. Its an awful time for a church. You never know when the bishop is just going to close the church, so there is a lot of looking around for someone to pastor.
As I say, its better than it used to be; there is at least an attempt to find someone for you…If you can’t find a pastor for a couple years, your church is most likely going to close.

 

[Aramis]

Within the Archdiocese of Anchorage, and its suffragan dioceses of Juneau and Fairbanks, MANY parishes lack pastors directly, but do not close.

This is because within this metropolitan province, circuit priests are not uncommon. Rev. Fr. Scott Garett is pastor of one parish, but serves as pastor for several more.

Within Anchorage, priests are appointed pastor for (normally) 6 year terms, renewable at the bishop’s discretion.

Associate Pastors and Pastoral Assistants (Mostly deacons and sisters) are appointed at the whim of the bishop. Deacons usually are left in place unless they or the pastor request a transfer.

One reason why they are moved is to prevent the “It’s My Parish” syndrome. Some priests begin to believe that the parish is their “petty kingdom.” The parish, by canon law, belongs to the Bishop and the faithful. The Pastor is a delegated authority. They get moved to keep them humble.

 

[drafdog]

The standard format for the assignment of clergy begins “For the care of souls…” which should answer the question which began this thread.
It saddens me to see people on this thread talk about priests being moved about because of their fiscal acumen, or lack thereof. The financial wellbeing of a parish belongs to the laity, not the hierarchy. As I have pointed out in other threads, the Vatican does not believe that priests should be involved in the financial dealings of the parish. If they did, then training in finances, business management and so forth would be mandated as part of the seminary curriculum. If the Vatican does not train them in this it is because it does not believe it is part of their duties. If it is not part of the sacerdotal ministry, there is only one place left for it. It is a ministry of the laity.
The apostles didn’t want to be saddled with such concerns, so they turned them over to other members of the community who were knowledgable in such administrative matters. Why on earth did we ever default on our duties to the church?

Matthew

 

[maryalene]

As I have pointed out in other threads, the Vatican does not believe that priests should be involved in the financial dealings of the parish.

Matthew

Do you have anymore information regarding this (link or source)? It has become a big problem in our parish that the laity have been completely shut out of financial decisions - finance council meetings are closed, expenditure numbers aren’t readily available, etc.

 

[pprimeau1976]

I have never heard an official declaration, but I think that one reason why they get moved around is so that people don’t lose their focus as to who they are worshiping. If I am going to church to hear Father Whatshisname speak, then I am going for the wrong reasons. Christ should be the center of Christian worship, not the Pastor.

Secondly, I think the Church moves priests around because the more diverse types of people you interact with, the better person you become.

 

[ironchef]

You know, you have a priest in your parish you really like and you walk in one day and he’s gone, been moved to another parrish. My parrish recently did this, a number of priests dissappeared, new ones popped up. But, our head priest (monsignor) has been there forever. All the priests below him shift over the years. I’ll bet this is tough on a priest when he gets attached to his current parrish and then has to leave…

they have to move them befor the police get them for child molestation. its like musical chairs. move to the next parish and molest as many as you can then move on to the next. thats what the priesthood is about.

 

[ironchef]

Why would the placement board do that, in the 1st. place and suppose the said priest had already told the congregation his reason for his request to transfer to the other parish? The could be any number of reason for his wanting to transfer, such as close to his family’s home.

the priesthood is a homosexual fraternity. we all know that now. so they move around so as to minimise the risk of lawsuits from the priest molesting kids.

 

[ironchef]

How is it handled if the current pastor is requesting transfer to a parish where there is an opening a year or two before his assignment at the current parish is finished? If his request is not granted, he would stay as pastor at the current church. In such a situation, it wouldn’t be such a good idea for a placement board to stir up rumors that the pastor wants to leave.

theres a good reason why the priest wants to get out of dodge.the alter boys that they have molested are getting older and might start to sing like canaries