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EDITORIAL

Creative thought needed

Catholics of the Diocese of Richmond must soon engage in creative pastoral planning in light of the projection that the diocese will experience a net loss of 18 to 20 priests over the next five years.

With this projection comes the likelihood that the Catholic population of the diocese will continue to increase. Many people are moving to Virginia from the Northeast and other Middle Atlantic States when they retire and a large number of them are Catholic.

This should not be a time of hand-wringing and a looking back on the way things used to be. In days past, there were often at least two priests in larger or even medium-size parishes. But the number of such parishes today accounts for only a handful. Obviously, changes will have to be made.

Priests are vital to the ministry of the Church. A priest is needed to celebrate Mass and to give absolution in the sacrament of penance. Both are at the heart of the Catholic faith. Thank God for our deacons who can assist the priests. They are a Godsend to pastors who count on them for baptisms, weddings and funerals when there is no Mass. Their ministry is important and more men will be needed to answer the call to the diaconate. Since the permanent diaconate is open to married men, the pool for potential candidates is much larger than that of priests.

None of us know what the end result will be, but people in the pews are being asked for their thoughts and ideas on how parish ministries can be sustained and even flourish as plans are made for the next five years. This issue of The Catholic Virginian reports that 19 geographical planning groups will be established to develop a five-year strategic plan for parishes in each group. While most of us expect Mass at our parish each Sunday, the shortage of priests might mean that it won’t always be possible in every parish. This is not a reality at this point in most places, but who knows what will happen when a priest’s time is stretched too thin over a weekend?

And it is unfair to expect priests to jump into a car immediately after finishing Mass in one church so he can travel to the next assigned parish church. While some priests are already facing this reality, Catholics must realize that much of the joy and satisfaction priests receive from their vocations is being with parishioners and getting to know them as members of their extended family. People in the pews likewise want to spend time with their priests as friends.

It’s time for some serious planning. Let’s face reality and be willing to bend. We may not always get what we want, but we must work together in bringing creative thoughts to the table.

— Steve Neill

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