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On the Priesthood, Part 1

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On the Priesthood, Part 1

October 27^th was Priesthood Sunday, a day to pray for our priests, and praising God for their courage and their generosity.

A few years ago (2009) Pope Benedict XVI declared a “Year for Priests” to encourage "spiritual perfection" in priests especially focused on the missionary identity of the priest … his mission to sanctify, teach and govern.

St. John Vianney, the great parish priest of Ars, France, in his catechism lesson on priesthood said: The priest is not a priest for himself; he does not give himself absolution; he does not administer the Sacraments to himself. He is not for himself, he is for you...

Since 1965 the number of Catholic in the US has increased by over 60%; the number of priests has declined by 16,000. In the US there is an average of one priest for 1400 Catholics. In Texas there is one priest for 3800 Catholics; here at St. Mark’s there are 10,000 Catholics per priest.

27% of US parishes are without a full-time, resident priest.

There are now more priests over 90 than under 30.

After many years of people asking me what I did with all my “free-time” Monday through Saturday (suggesting I must get a lot of golf in) I wrote out a job description for a Pastor:

Job Description for Pastors of St. Mark the Evangelist:

Serve a client base of 9700+ households or about 32,000 parishioners; celebrate daily and Sunday Masses, plus funerals, weddings, baptisms and quinceañeros. Visit children in their classrooms. Bless homes, vehicles, pets and other personal items; visit hospitals and the home-bound; long-term planning and strategy, supervising a staff of 20; budget planning and financial forecasting; building and property maintenance; teaching, committee meetings, office hours, counseling and spiritual direction; serve on diocesan committees and commissions, all with 12 hour days, six day weeks that could knock even the hardiest A-type corporate executive on his back from exhaustion. And in all that, find time for personal prayer and reflection and personal continuing education … and, most important -- always be joyful.

It’s an impossible job, but someone has to do it. Pray for priests and encourage Vocations to religious live or ordained ministry.

Fr. Clifford G. Smith, Pastor
St. Mark the Evangelist
Plano, Texas