Worried about one day losing our priest

[on_the_hill]

Yesterday our parish priest / pastor announced that he spoke with the bishop and requested that he be allowed to stay with our parish, and the bishop agreed.

However, it brings up something I’m worried about. We love our priest. He’s everything we need him to be. As I mentioned another thread, he’s gregarious, engaging, dynamic, compassionate, strong, a gifted homilist, a counselor, etc.

And every so often I get worried that we’ll lose him, that he’ll be reassigned. In the 15 years that we’ve been members, we’ve had two phenomenal priests, and I know we’ve been blessed. I’ve been to a lot of other churches and usually leave their Masses thinking, ‘it would be hard to be a regular member of this parish…’

Then I remember that one of the missions of the Church is to “go forth and evangelize.” If our beloved, spectacular priest always stays with us, a whole lot of other people are being denied his gifts. And that seems selfish of me.

Thoughts?

 

[Isca]

Although I am a new Catholic, I feel exactly the same about our priest, who has been at our parish as the sole priest for 12 years. He is exactly as you describe your much-loved priest. I think I would have had an even longer journey to the Catholic Church if he hadn’t been the one whom I spoke to in the first place.

However, if he’s needed elsewhere to work some of his magic, that would be a good thing - although a lot would change at my parish, I’m sure. He would certainly be sorely-missed.

 

[Avocadomom]

We lost a very popular, bright, and charismatic priest for one that has one foot out the door toward retirement, is very sedate, not social, and a dull homilist. We were fine. That’s part of the reason they do move priests - so that they do not attract “cults of personality” or too many personal ties within the parish. It’s not about the priest, it’s about the sacraments and Jesus. Believe me, when you do lose your priest, and you will - your parish will keep on keeping on, and so will you.

 

[shainski]

When I read your post, all of a sudden i had a flashback to the old tv series, “MASH”.

In an eposide, one of the doctors, BJ Hunicutt (sp?) was missing his young daughter’s birthday. He was walking around terribly depressed for a few days. Whenever someone tried to sympathize with him, he kept pushing them aside and saying they couldn’t possible understand. He made it clear that he had given up more than everyone else for this war. (Korea)

Finally, in a backlash of anger, Major Hoolihan bursted out: “Maybe you have lost more than anyone else - but that’s only because you’ve had more than anyone else.”

For some reason, that always stuck with me.

Count your blessings when you have them. Your priest sounds wonderful.