From the Pastor's Desk…...

August 17, 2003

VOCATIONS

The good news is that St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park is completely full with one hundred studying for the priesthood.  The Diocese of Monterey also has a record number studying for priesthood; ten currently enrolled.  But the bad news is that even with one or two priests ordained each year, the number of priests in this Diocese and in the Country will continue to decline.  Currently, we have forty six parishes and forty six Diocesan Priests.  Before the year 2010, some very difficult decisions will have to be made.  When you only have one priest in a parish of 2,000 families, how can you justify having a priest in a parish of one hundred families or less?  The number of baptisms, confirmations and the revenue available to pay for programs will be major factors in decisions and if there are parishioners who will take on responsibility.

One alternative that was approved by the Vatican Council forty years ago was Permanent Deacons.  Permanent Deacons are usually older married men who go through a four year training program.  Currently the classes are on Saturdays in King City.  Frequently, they work in partnership with their wives.  A Permanent Deacon can do everything a priest can do, except Consecrate the Eucharist at Mass, anoint with the sacrament of the sick, hear Confessions nor Confirm.  They perform weddings, baptize, counsel, and administer parishes.  In some Dioceses, there are as many Permanent Deacons as there are Priests.  Are you being called to serve?  A problem the Bishop has had in starting the Permanent Deacon Program has been financing.  How do you pay for a new program when revenues are declining?

God is in control.  Perhaps God is telling us something with this Priest shortage.  You have been hearing about the priesthood of all baptized and that's you.  What role are you going to be called to undertake in the future?  Each of you has been given a gift to use for the service of others.  Everyone is called to ministry by his or her baptism into the one priesthood of Christ.  The Church is the people of God.  All of us.  The community is formed around the Sunday Eucharist.  Ecclesial ministry is full time paid lay people performing roles of:  Pastoral Associate, Business Manager, Director Religious Education, Youth Minister, Liturgist, etc.

Lay people like yourself are being called to do Scripture-Communion Services in absence of a priest.  In this Parish, Liturgists for each Sunday Mass are needed, Musicians, RCIA, Children's Teachers and Education Coordinators, Marriage Coordinators to help plan and set up the Church and married couples to give marriage instructions, Grief Ministry to help plan funerals and provide a support group and put on a luncheon, Lectors, Ministers of Eucharist and Communion Ministers to bring our Lord to the elderly and sick.  If your parents cannot come to Church anymore, whey don't you take Communion home to them each Sunday?

With Faith in Life Everlasting,

George Batchelder, M.A.