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JillD
Member
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Visalia, California USA |
| Posts: | 600 |
| First Name: | Jill | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | heathen, EvFree, Messianic, LC-MS, Catholic 2007 |
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Posted: Sat Feb 23rd, 2008 10:15 pm |
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Yep, soon the soon-to-be-named "The Catholic Church of Visalia" is losing one of its priests and so there will be 3 for 24,000 Catholics in our area. When one needs spiritual help or counseling or advice or information, to whom do we go? There isn't the same sort of structure in our church as I was used to in the protestant church with pastors, ass't pastors, elders, deacons, etc. There was always some sort of big kahuna to approach with 'issues.'
A mighty big flock for three....
Is this typical?
Jill
____________________
"The alternative to obedience is to turn the conversation into a cacophony of Christians making it up as they go along." - Fr. Richard John Neuhaus
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tedjenczewski
Member
| Joined: | Thu May 10th, 2007 |
| Location: | Richmond, Virginia USA |
| Posts: | 162 |
| First Name: | Ted | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic, Presbyterian, Catholic |
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Posted: Sun Feb 24th, 2008 01:33 am |
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I think your situation is getting to be typical for metropolitan areas. My church has 1900 families shepherded by one priest. My own experience with a protestant presbyterian church of 400 to 500 members, with a pastor, assistant pastor and youth minister, all with families, was more comprehendable. I was amazed to see the church able to support so large a staff. I personally would like to see a married order of clergy in the western Catholic Church to see if it would increase vocations and ultimately result in smaller parishes.
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"...the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth." 1Tim 3, 15
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rbo4u2
Member
| Joined: | Tue Jan 16th, 2007 |
| Location: | Sunnyvale, California USA |
| Posts: | 324 |
| First Name: | Rich | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Formerly Christian & Missionary Alliance then became Presbyterian |
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Posted: Sun Feb 24th, 2008 01:59 am |
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JillD wrote:
Yep, soon the soon-to-be-named "The Catholic Church of Visalia" is losing one of its priests and so there will be 3 for 24,000 Catholics in our area. When one needs spiritual help or counseling or advice or information, to whom do we go? There isn't the same sort of structure in our church as I was used to in the protestant church with pastors, ass't pastors, elders, deacons, etc. There was always some sort of big kahuna to approach with 'issues.'
A mighty big flock for three....
Is this typical?
Jill
Wow Jill. That's a major issue in many Catholic churches. In our Presbyterian church we have around 5000 members and support 8 ministers full time. It doesn't hurt we are a wealthy church, but still....
I know the Catholic church has a shortage of priests. We can only pray that all the younger seminarians packing many of the good newer seminaries can help in your area eventually. I think the largest Catholic church here in the San Jose area has maybe 3 priests. It has around 5000 members.
I'll keep you and your church in my prayers.
Rich
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JillD
Member
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Visalia, California USA |
| Posts: | 600 |
| First Name: | Jill | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | heathen, EvFree, Messianic, LC-MS, Catholic 2007 |
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Posted: Sun Feb 24th, 2008 02:29 am |
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tedjenczewski wrote: I personally would like to see a married order of clergy in the western Catholic Church to see if it would increase vocations and ultimately result in smaller parishes.
It would be wonderful if more of these protestant pastors who are becoming Catholic could become (married) priests. It must be hard for them to lose that vocation.
Jill
____________________
"The alternative to obedience is to turn the conversation into a cacophony of Christians making it up as they go along." - Fr. Richard John Neuhaus
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Connie
User on Probation
| Joined: | Fri Jun 1st, 2007 |
| Location: | California USA |
| Posts: | 99 |
| First Name: | Connie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Catholic Convert from Presbyterian, then Episcopalian |
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Posted: Sun Feb 24th, 2008 11:03 am |
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I know Jill. This is common. I guess there's just not that many men who are willing to give up their lives, become celibate and follow the Lord's leading. I too at times have felt at a loss of where to turn, (being a former Protestant myself) when wanting to discuss something, as our Priests are scarce. It's a shame. But you should always be able to find a Priest in your town and he should be able to help you anytime, if you need to talk with him. Don't hesitate to contact them, to reach o ut. Also every church should have deacons. And Catholic deacons really go through an extensive program. I would trust them whole-heartedly.
One thing I've noticed being a new Catholic Jill, is I've really grown on my dependence on God, rather than man. I've deepened my prayer life, my devotional time, and realized really no human is there in this life for us, like God is, and how we really go through this journey alone pretty much. It's sad that the support system is not like it was in the Protestant church, but then again, you have a new support system, an even greater one Jill. You have the worldwide Church, all the Saints, and the Blessed Mother. Being in the True Church will not be an easy step, believe me. There may even be more heartaches/headaches on your doorstep, like there has been for me. But don't lose hope. Take courage. It is the right step.
I hope you know about the marvelous devotional book, "The Magnificat".
Bless You
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~Connie~
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Jim Anderson
Moderator
| Joined: | Fri Jan 25th, 2008 |
| Location: | Logan, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 7 |
| First Name: | Jim | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | From Methodits to Lutheran to Catholic |
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Posted: Mon Feb 25th, 2008 07:55 pm |
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| Allowing married priests in the Western Rite of the Catholic Church would not bring about an end to the shortage of priests. There is also a shortage of clergy in many Protestant denominations where the general rule is that the pastors are married. We in the West are suffering a crisis of faith not a priests' crisis. In Africa, where the faith is strong among the laypeople, (also in dioceses right here in the USA that have strongly orthodox bishops) the seminaries have a waiting list. Also, our African brothers and sister have begun to send missionary priests to us! What we need is priests who are faithful to the Church's teachings, preach the Truth openly and project to children that they love what they are doing. We also need parients who will encourage their boys to actively consider the priesthood as an option. If boys are raised with faith in Jesus and His Church and they see the priesthood as something positive, the barriers to the Holy Spirit's call to them to be priests will fall. This "shortage" is only temporary. God's will shall be done!
____________________
Jim Anderson
Assistant Director
The Coming Home Network International
PO Box 8290
Zanesville, OH 43821
740-450-1175
jim@chnetwork.org
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rbo4u2
Member
| Joined: | Tue Jan 16th, 2007 |
| Location: | Sunnyvale, California USA |
| Posts: | 324 |
| First Name: | Rich | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Formerly Christian & Missionary Alliance then became Presbyterian |
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Posted: Mon Feb 25th, 2008 08:22 pm |
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Jim Anderson wrote: We in the West are suffering a crisis of faith not a priests' crisis.
Truer words were never spoken Jim. The crisis of faith is both in the Catholic and Protestant community, especially here in America. Even our Protestant Mega-churches, with all their Bible studies and programs, people are still Biblically ignorant. We have Bible study guides out the kazoo, teaching more Bible principles for living based upon the latest psychological fad or most popular teacher of the moment rather than solid practical systematic teaching from the Bible. Hence, theology is considered too heavenly minded to be any earthly good for most people. Theology? Not practical to my current situation, most will say. It just a bunch of ideas collected that have no bearing on what I do everyday.
I find that kind of thinking very shallow and disturbing.
And while the mega-churches thrive on providing a Super Wal-mart program, the "mom and pop" smaller churches suffer. They can't compete. The pastors of these churches often burn out and in up on the ash heap. I'm sure you've seen the same in many Catholic parishes.
Our churches have become country clubs with shallow Bible stories and little true in depth teaching. But then, all of America has been dumbed down to the lowest denominator out side the church too. We, as a church, have become a mere reflection of society, rather than a lighthouse on the hill shining out into the darkness.
It's one of the reasons I've entered the path to Rome. For all the abuses and failures of the Catholic Church, I still find the tradition and teaching too hard to ignore.
Rich
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