Reflection 248
Based on the Vatican II
document (Comments welcome here) |
One
point from these articles: when a
mission area has its own local clergy, foreign institutes should hand over
parishes to the local clergy
and then support the local clergy in special works (e.g. seminary and other
formation courses)
In recent years, with the shortage of clergy, many dioceses are in-reverse of the above words: they are looking for institutes to take over parishes as local clergy numbers decline rapidly
And all the while, sitting "on the bench", "on the side-line", waiting for a call to take their place "on the field" are an immense number of local deacons and lay people who would love to be ordained and look after a parish
In fact many priestless parishes now have a lay parish manager and/or lay pastoral worker who does everything except say Mass
The
time has come for a new understanding of "hand over parishes":
Hand them over to competent deacons and lay people, after ordaining these as
priests
Jesus, please move the hearts of the Vatican to provide more pastors for your people