| June 2, 2008 | Volume 83, Number 16 | |
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Pastoral plans submittedThere obviously is some fear among Catholics in the Diocese of Richmond who don’t want to accept that the continuing shortage of priests will make it impossible to expect Mass every Sunday at all 152 parishes in the diocese. Statistics tell the story. While there are 152 parishes, there are only 123 active priests. This figure includes the international priests who gratefully have received permission from their bishops to help us to celebrate the sacraments. Already many parishes in the diocese, some of which once had three priests, no longer have a resident pastor. People from all parts of the diocese, who had been gathering in 21 local planning areas to come up with a five-year strategic plan, submitted their respective plans May 31. The plan was to address how they might work together and try to best meet the sacramental needs in their local area. This effort on the part of the diocese’s Office of Pastoral Planning, under the direction of Beth Neu, was conducted smoothly for the most part. It soon became obvious to everyone involved that changes have to be made. Reality had set in. Facing the clergy shortage and coming up with a plan required a lot of hard work and a willingness to let go of turf issues. The local planning area groups faced the clergy shortage which is critical and people suggested creative ideas which may or may not become reality. That’s where people get nervous. “All things are on the table,” Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo has said. But that still does not mean that every plan put down on paper will become a reality. It may well be that two parishes which are geographically close might find themselves with one pastor. But calm down, folks. This doesn’t mean that one of the two churches will close! The same priest could serve both parishes. Obviously the Mass schedule would have to be adapted so the priest could preside at both churches on Sunday. Yes, the Sunday Mass schedule will have to be shortened. Again, what is written down in a submitted plan does not translate into reality of what the future holds. Realistically, it is certain that in the near future some parishes will have to be closed. There are several parishes in which fewer than 30 people gather for Sunday Mass. The priest who presides may have had to drive close to an hour from another parish to get there. Some then jump in their car and travel to a third church for Mass. This is too much to expect of anybody. Yes, people in the small parishes are still important. It is good that they want to worship in a Catholic community. But surely they understand that some adjustments have to be made in light of the estimated net loss of 18-22 priests over the next five years. There will be no priests ordained for the diocese this year. Two men are expected to be ordained in 2009. One sobering statistic is that nationwide 70 percent of Catholic priests are over age 55.
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