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Email a FriendTimely post, Rachel. Our parish is going through the same thing. Our new priest is set to begin early August. Our prayers are the same and we’ve been speaking on the same theme as your post to our children. God is in charge. And it’s good to be reminded of that. Often. 
True Faith
What is Catholicism all about?
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Wednesday, July 06, 2011 6:32 PM
Our parish got a new priest last weekend, a priest reassigned to our parish to replace the outgoing priest.
This will be our third priest in five years (our tenth priest in thirty years) and it’s hard not to wonder what in the world in wrong with us. How do we keep scaring off these men so quickly?
The truth is there is a whole host of issues at our parish, none of which I’ll go into here. But that’s how it is for us right now and we are praying that our Bishop (and even more importantly, the Lord) has this time sent us the man who can get the job done, who can take care of the unique needs of our particular flock.
It’s very easy to get discouraged at this scene. It could be very easy for our parish members to feel a tad rejected—or at the very least self-conscious—about our priestly turnover. But honestly, each situation has had its own unique explanation, and I’m just praying that the man who is now assigned to lead our flock has the gifts and wherewithal to get the job done.
But here is what I know in the midst of these circumstances: God is bigger than all of this. And God loves us. His heart is on fire for each one of us. When I keep that truth in mind, I can’t go wrong. Yes I want things to work out with this new priest—I want him to come in and take charge and be the man that can deal with the challenges of our particular parish. And from what I’m hearing and seeing, it seems like this might be that case. I’m so hopeful!
But in the midst of this, the bottom line is God is on the throne, no matter what.
I think this is a concept—a Truth—that we all need to remember as members of the Catholic church. When we feel slighted, when we feel unsure, when we are discouraged by our leadership—and in the most extreme situations, when we feel betrayed and let-down—we need to remember that we are not here as Catholics for any other reason than God’s incredible love for us, and His gift of the Eucharist. No human being can fill that void. No great homilist or speaker or inspirational leader can take the place of the Lamb of God. Our Church is filled with men (and women) who are here to draw us closer to God, but they do not take His place.
This is the hope we have, the encouragement in discouraging times. When people fail, when we seek hope and renewal, there is God and God alone.
Comments
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Rachel, don’t feel so bad. Our parish is staffed by a religious order of priests. They are wonderful but a new pastor comes about every 5 years or so. The same with the other priests (they have staffed us with 3.) They stay awhile and you have to enjoy each one as they come. I hope yours will help solve the parish problems. God Bless
Posted by praying for priests on Wednesday, Jul 6, 2011 10:07 PM (EDT):
My heart goes out to priests. Their job is getting harder and harder. We expect more and more of them and they get more criticism for not doing A, B and C right or not being traditional enough. I’ve seen some priests get really run down by a congregation. It has got to be one of the most stressful jobs there is. I confess that I do not wish it for my boys. Priests should be able to focus on the sacraments and have someone else do the rest. Expecting priests to take on more than one parish with more people is too much and we are going to burn them out.
I’m not sure what the answer is. We have been praying for more vocations for years and the numbers are not coming. Meanwhile the demands increase and the numers of active priests decrease.
That said I have no idea what your situation is. I only know what I see here. I focus on the universal Church and not just on one person. The Eucharist keeps me grounded in God.
Posted by Emily on Wednesday, Jul 6, 2011 11:21 PM (EDT):
I agree that the situation is difficult. However, there are more numbers coming from other areas! I remember a friend telling me a diocese she grew up in instituted a holy hour and they have a growing number of young men entering seminary. I like hearing stories like that so I pass along to you!
However, respectfully I add that you might pray for your own sons’ vocations (that they be open to what God calls them to) . You are praying for more priests but add that you do not wish that for your own sons. Perhaps it is this discouragement that sometimes even subconsciously deters young men from exploring that as an option. Our pastor has mentioned a few times from the pulpit that God will not abandon his people; God is calling enough men to be priests. Are we as the people of God encouraging these vocations?
I remember a really sweet young boy (about 8) that I taught piano to. He had mentioned to me he was interested in being a priest. I was thrilled. How beautiful he was thinking of this already! I told him I thought that was wonderful. I mentioned to his mom how impresesed I was and she begrudgingly said, “I know, but he’s my only boy ...” and she mentioned how she’d like him to have a family and she grandkids. :( And he was such a young virtuous kid already. It was a bummer!
Yeah, it is tough, but it’s only going to get tougher if we don’t encourage our young men to be priests.
On the sacramental side, you’re right, it is too bad there is so much administrative stuff to do. Our pastor has said that sacraments are always a priest’s number one priority. Really, that is their purpose and their job. Hopefully with more priests the administative duties on each priest would be alleviated.
Posted by praying for our sons on Thursday, Jul 7, 2011 8:47 AM (EDT):
Of course Emily I will pray for my sons that their hearts and my heart are open to whatever God’s plan is for their life. I will certainly paint a real picture of all vocations. From what I see there is a lack of emotional/psychological maturity in some of the new priests and I think that is so important. Quite honestly I think to myself-how did they ever pass the psychologicals? It took a lot for me to admit I don’t desire that life for my boys. I figured I would get called on it.
Why do you think people are not encouraging their sons to become priests?
Posted by KViz on Thursday, Jul 7, 2011 10:00 AM (EDT):
I want to reply to Emily and to the comment that our priests have too much burden.
I am the mom of a seminarian. He is my only son (4 daughters) and he is the most pure-hearted person I have ever known. He has been thinking of the priesthood since he was about 6 years old, but we only realized he was serious when he came to us and told us he was going to seminary. I will be very honest and tell you that I cried a lot, not because I didn’t want him to be a priest, but because I know some of what he will suffer if he does become a priest. This is my little boy who brought me wildflowers, who always hugged me as a teenager, who loves little old ladies and babies. Yet there will be people who see his collar and think “pedophile!” And there will be people who see his collar and put him on a pedestal with expectations he can never fulfill. He will labor long and hard with no praise, and get immediate criticism if he fails at all. He will be a target for both secular and spiritual enemies, and who will be there to love him when he is old and feeble?
I have to look to the Blessed Mother to help me as his mother. I marvel at her courage and her trust in God. It is not easy to remain at the foot of the Cross. So much is demanded of our priests, yet so much is also given to them. To be a shepherd of souls, protector of the Bride of Christ, to stand in the person of Christ himself and feed his sheep, to call down Jesus’ very Body and Blood on the altar – what sacrifice or suffering counts as anything against this? If my son perseveres until ordination, I am sure it will be one of the happiest days of our lives.
Yes, priests often have too many administrative duties. Yes, we burn them out. Our parish (I attend the same one as Rachel) seems to have a peculiar talent for chewing them up. Only a profound love for Jesus would keep anyone in such a position for long. So please, pray for our priests, and support your sons in being priests if that is their calling. Show your sons (and daughters) a good role model by loving and encouraging the priests who serve you. And let us all try to be generous in love with one another.
Posted by Claire on Thursday, Jul 7, 2011 10:01 AM (EDT):
My diocese is really strict about screening prospective priests.
On another note, I really like the concept of having a deacon or pastoral administrator relive the priest of some of his administrative duties so he can focus on the sacraments. I still think he should have some involvement in administration, though.
Posted by Sue on Friday, Jul 8, 2011 1:08 AM (EDT):
To KViz - thank you so much for sharing about your son! That made me cry. Since we converted last year, my 12 year old son has been saying that he wants to be a priest. Of course, only God knows if he truly has a vocation to the priesthood at this point, but you gave me a lot to think and pray about! God bless your precious son. I am going to include him in my prayers tonight.
Posted by Pat on Friday, Jul 8, 2011 11:00 PM (EDT):
Kviz,
Thank you for sharing your experience of your son’s vocation so beautifully. Your post made me cry too! I have two little boys (toddler and preschooler). I never thought I would have these precious boys and feel so blessed to be given the task of raising them. During my pregnancy with my oldest son, I promised our Lord that I would raise this child to serve Him - whatever form that would ultimately take. I have always had a gut feeling that he may have a vocation for the priesthood. I know it is so early in his little five-year-old life but I just have that kind of feeling with some of the things he says and does. I regularly pray that, if that is the case, God will give me the strength to follow through on my promise.
Posted by Sara B. on Thursday, Jul 7, 2011 7:02 AM (EDT):
Dear Faith & Family Readers,
I think all of us at some point in our lives as Catholics have had this lament that Rachel speaks about in this post. My parish just got a new pastor July 1. The previous pastor was a difficult for many to understand. Personally, I stepped away from all ministries in the parish that had direct contact with the priest. Doing so created lots of guilt.
A few years ago, I went on a retreat that was conducted by a priest not from my Diocese. He gave me a wise piece of advice that I have shared over and over with others. I hope it encourages you too. The retreat-master said, “The priest assigned to your parish is there not only for your formation, but God has placed him at YOUR parish for HIS formation.”
As iron sharpend iron so do men sharpen the hearts of men. Hearing a priest speak about his own need for formation and the desire for others formation helped me have more compassion for the priest I struggled with. Pray for your priest and your parish daily. With time, you will see changes for God is ALWAYS faithful.
God Bless you all!
Our parish just had our priest of 10 years reassigned to another parish. We were devastated! He was a wonderful priest, incredibly holy, and we realize we can’t hog him all to ourselves forever, but it’s been hard. The new priest is wonderful, nice, gentle, funny, and incredibly likeable. My prayer of the past few weeks is that he has gifts that our parish needs and that is why he is with us. I think he does. The one area of ministry that our parish needs and lacks is an area that I have heard is a strength of his. It’s been tough to lose a man whose been a spiritual father to me, my husband, and my children but it’s exciting to see what the Lord might do through this new man of God. And really, our old priest was just moved to a parish a few miles away. He’s coming for dinner on Aug 3. We still get to see him occasionally, just not every Sunday.
Posted by Melanie on Thursday, Jul 7, 2011 1:01 PM (EDT):
Our priest was also reassigned, but it had nothing to do with his performance. In fact many of us are greatly distressed. He only came less than 2 years ago and has been wonderful. He did let us know that the diocese was re-structuring all the parishes. Combining up to three parishes. 40 priests were re-assigned in our diocese. I don’t know why they just couldn’t have re-structured the parishes and left the priests be. I attented daily mass the other day, this wonderful, retired priest said that at one point there was one priest for every 1,000 people, now it is 1 priest to every 2,100 people. Our priests are carrying a huge burden and are being obedient to their superiors, but sometimes at a high personal cost. May the Lord grant us many more holy vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
Rachel,
I loved this. One of the Gift of Grace’s beloved priests has been asked to leave his parish amid accusations that the Sisters (and I) believe are unjust. But as you said, we are there for the Eucharist, for the body of Christ, not for the person administering this Holy Sacrament. Also loved the comment from Sara B. I often forget that God has a plan for the pastor as well. Maybe the parish is truly there for HIS formation.
**Fr. Longenecker is my husband’s parents’ pastor. We attend Mass at OLR in Greenville often. He’s got a unique situation as a former Anglican priest with children of his own. Despite my initial reservations, he has done great things for the Ninnesses’ parish.
Prayers sent to your church family for consitency, healing and joy!
Posted by army catholic on Thursday, Jul 7, 2011 4:42 PM (EDT):
I’m part of the military archdiocese. Our problem is not rotating priests (it happens all the time in the military), it’s the close-minded response from fellow parishoners.
The well-liked priest who gave good homilies recently deployed, and now the once-packed sanctuary is virtually empty. The new priest made a comment recently about bringing concerns or questions to him for discussion prior to deciding to leave the parish…it’s that bad. My husband turned to me and jokingly said “you don’t want no drama, drama!” but it’s so true. Our poor priests have to deal with more drama than they can handle. I understand that people want to get something out of the preaching, but isn’t the focus the Liturgy of the Word and the Eucharist? Sad how quickly people forget this!
Posted by Sue on Friday, Jul 8, 2011 1:04 AM (EDT):
We are recent converts, and this “shuffling of priests” is one thing that attracted me to the Church, quite honestly. I was coming from an Evangelical church where the pastor had been holding the reigns for over 30 years. Let me tell you, it was *his* church. Because of that experience I can see how wise it is to have a system in place that allows for moving priests for the good of both the priests and the congregation.
Our parish is attached to a Franciscan monastery, and the priest that helped us into the Church was moved shortly after we entered. I cried. I was so sad to see him go, but I also see the wisdom in it, and I’m glad that our Church has wisely set things up in a way that helps us to stay focused on what is truly important - not any one man, but Holthe Holy Eucharist.
Posted by Waiting....and praying on Friday, Jul 8, 2011 11:13 AM (EDT):
It is hard to have a wonderful priest moved. Our awesome priest who was here for 10 years got moved and Fr. “CEO” moved in. I *know* that our Lord is in the Eucharist, and it shouldn’t matter who is in charge of distributing holy communion, but it DOES!
I know that our priests have a really hard job, and I pray for them often (just finished the Novena), and will continue to pray.
I guess what bugs me about Fr. CEO, is that it’s ALL about the bottom-line! Many of our ministries have been canceled because they don’t bring in any revenue…and I don’t feel like that is fair! Also, we have disagreements about how “welcome” children are in Mass, and I feel like he isn’t warm and friendly at all! Sure, priests are human, but their very vocation is to lead the flock to Heaven and our Lord. He acts like our children are lepers covered in disease, as he won’t touch them or smile and say hi.
Again, I know they are just human, and have stuff to work on, but to me—-if a priest isn’t good with social skills and interpersonal relationship issues, it’s a bit like a brain surgeon who isn’t good around sharp tools and BLOOD!
Needless to say, I can’t WAIT until this person is moved…meanwhile, we are going to a different parish!
Posted by Monica (momof2) on Saturday, Jul 9, 2011 8:03 AM (EDT):
Although I do believe priests should be given more training in areas such as social skills and psychology (they have to do counseling), overall we expect way to much from our priests. I am personally surprised that they don’t all end up on antidepressants just to cope. I did know a holy priest that was so burnt-out that his order removed him from service outside the monastery. I can’t even imagine the pressure priests feel to be everything to everybody. Some of the undue pressure on priests is due to the priest shortage but some of it is due to the inclination of people to be attracted to one parish over the other because of the priest’s personality or style - in other words, we Catholics, like everyone else, tend to form cults of personality around people. I think it’s a really good thing that priests get moved around because that helps prevent over-attachment to the personality and keep us focused on what we are at church for. Just like the job of a parent isn’t to be our kids’ friends, the job of a priest isn’t to be our friend. It’s to give us the sacraments and lead us as a flock. I think we need to complain less and offer more support and encourage to our priests whether we “like” them or not. I know priests are constantly getting complaints so I try to counter that in a small way and write one letter a year to our pastor and associate, whoever it happens to be, just thanking them for their service and offering prayers. Just think how much good it would do if everyone in the parish did that.
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