The Welfare of
Priests
Concerned with the welfare of priests,
the Presbyteral Council of the Diocese of Davenport requested the Priestly Life
and Ministry Committee to develop guidelines that priests might reflect upon
and incorporate into their life and ministry.
This document, developed over a period of time, is the result of their
efforts.
Following the outline given to the
Diocese of Davenport by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in their
Basic Plan for the Ongoing Formation of
Priests, we divided the document into five areas of formation –
intellectual, pastoral, spiritual, human and ministry. Each section offers particular guidelines for
the continuing formation of the priest.
It is our desire that the individual priest reflect upon and adapt these
guidelines as his life style.
Also, we are requesting Parish Pastoral
Councils to assist in maintaining an environment that is supportive of wellness
for the priest. We are asking the
councils to look at current parish practices and structures in light of these
guidelines and change them where appropriate.
Together, may we continue to lead the People of God into the life that
has been promised.
Intellectual Formation aims to deepen
the understanding of faith. It seeks to
link theoretical knowledge with a practical wisdom, so that priests can serve
their people more effectively.” Great
emphasis is placed on life-long learning.
·
Priests are required to continue their formation by attendance
at the Chrism Mass and Convocation, the June Institute and the Fall Clergy
Overnighter.
·
Each newly ordained priest (first five years of ordination),
with the assistance of the Vocation Director will have a priest mentor and meet
with him regularly to reflect upon his experience of ministry.
·
Fifty-two contact hours of education per year (in other
words, one hour per week) is minimally encouraged.
·
Priests are encouraged to participate in the diocesan
sabbatical program.
Pastoral
Formation entails the
development of skills and competencies that enable priests to serve their
people well.
·
The living space of a priest has an effect on his
wellbeing. Each priest has different
needs. Simplicity in lifestyle is to be
the goal. Wherever possible, priests are
encouraged to live outside the work place.
·
Unrealistic expectations of priests by parishioners or by
priests themselves can lead to conflict.
Priests, with the assistance of the Parish Pastoral Council and the
Priestly Life and Ministry Committee, are encouraged to prepare a job
description.
·
Priestly identity has become a confusing issue in the
present milieu. The presbyterate needs
to continually engage in a process of study, dialogue, reflection and prayer on
this issue as it applies to its life and ministry.
·
It is healthy for a priest to get constructive feedback on
his ministry. The Priestly Life and
Ministry Committee will continue to explore a process for review of priestly ministry
which will hold priests accountable and also challenge them to grow in their
ministry.
Spiritual Formation is a life-long task that priests share with other followers
of Jesus Christ. Its aim is for priests
to become better disciples of Jesus Christ and, specifically, to become more
transparent sacramental signs of Him in whose person and name we act.
·
Each priest is to meet with a spiritual director on a
regular basis. The Priestly Life and
Ministry Committee will maintain a listing of spiritual directors and retreat
centers.
·
According to Canon Law, a priest is to make an annual
retreat and notify the Bishop that such has been done. The Diocese will continue to provide a
retreat experience suitable to the needs of the diocesan priest. Priests may make a retreat other than the
diocesan retreat, but are to notify the Bishop’s 0ffice.
·
Daily prayer (especially the celebration of the Eucharist
and the Liturgy of the Hours).
·
Regular celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
·
Priests are encouraged to belong to a support group. Priests currently in support groups are to be
commended.
Human
Formation has as its aim the
fuller development of a priest’s humanity so that his humanity can be a
“bridge” for communicating Jesus Christ to men and women today. “Of special importance is the capacity to
relate to others. This is truly
fundamental for a person who is called to be responsible for a community and to
be a ‘man of communion’” (PVD, no. 43).
·
A yearly physical is recommended.
·
Priests are reminded to exercise regularly, to practice good
nutrition and to use their time wisely.
·
According to Canon Law (Can.533, Sec.2), priests are allowed
one continuous or an interrupted month of vacation per year. A consistent manner of reckoning the employment
year is the fiscal year.
·
Pastors who plan on being absent from the parish for a
period beyond one week are to notify the Bishop’s Office.
·
Each parish of the diocese is to develop a plan for
emergency coverage in case of sudden illness or other condition. (See diocesan policy for Sunday Celebration
in the Absence of a Priest.)
·
Coordinating with the Chancery, an organized process for
obtaining a substitute for vacation time will be developed.
·
For good mental health, it is encouraged that priests schedule
a day away from the work environment on a weekly basis.
·
Priests need to maintain healthy relationships with others,
male and female, in order to maintain good emotional health. Priests are sexual beings who have embraced
celibacy but still need life-giving relationships. Our ministry is primarily relational…to God,
to one another, and to the people we serve.
·
Recognition of one’s ministry is important. The presbyterate needs to recommend to the
Bishop ways in which priests can meaningfully be recognized for their ministry.
Ministry. The challenge of each
parish is to become a prayerful and vital community in all areas of
ministry. Some places have found success
in smaller communities of faith within the larger parish. Creative ways of being Church need to be
nurtured.
A. Realizing that a healthy personal priesthood
is directly related to a healthy ministerial life, these practical expectations
are recommended:
·
A priest is limited to celebrating no more than three Masses
on a Sunday.
·
A priest is expected to offer no more than one daily mass.
·
On days when a funeral or wedding Mass is celebrated, the
daily Mass is to be cancelled with parishioners encouraged to attend the ritual
·
If the attendance at regularly scheduled weekend Masses is
consistently less than half the capacity of the church, the regular schedule
should be changed by dropping one or more Masses.
·
It is encouraged that there be a 90 minute gap between the
starting times of successive Masses.
B. To
nourish a healthy parish life, the following are suggested:
·
Each parish (deanery) is to have a strategic plan that is
reviewed regularly (copies to the Diocese).
·
All staff and volunteers have clearly-written job
descriptions leading to collaboration with other ministries.
·
Capable laity be discerned and called forth for ministry in
areas such as, social action, family life, faith formation, religious
education, youth ministry, pastoral care and parish management. The diocesan offices will assist in providing
training and direction.
·
Leaders of prayer be trained and certified through a
diocesan formation process. These
leaders will be able to lead funeral rites, weekday prayer, the Liturgy of the
Hours and other forms of devotional prayer.
·
Each parish should have properly formed ministers of care to
visit the sick, homebound and hospitalized.
·
Each parish is to have a competent and trustworthy
parishioner to oversee the business affairs of the parish - such as, financial
accounting, tax records, insurance and bookkeeping.
This
document is presented to the Presbyteral Council by the Priestly Life and
Ministry Committee to be promulgated by Bishop William Franklin on this 9th
day of June, in the year of 2004.