Ask a Question - or - Return to the Faith and Spirituality Forum Index

Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
How Pastors are chosen by the Bishop	Janine	Friday, November 16, 2007
Question: This isn't really a faith question, but there isn't any other area to put this questions to (by the way, will you be opening up other topics again soon, such as defending the faith and liturgy, etc.?) My question is one that I am sure many parishioners often wonder about. It is the procedure or process by which a bishop assigns priests and pastors to parishes within the diocese. What is the minimum term a pastor usually serves a parish as well as a a maximum term? How does a bishop base his decision on assigning pastors, and do priests have any input themselves as to where they will serve? Our pastor has been there going on 15 years, and others in our diocese have served only 4 or 5. Lastly, can priests request any parishes to serve and if they truly do not like where they are assigned for whatever reason, can they ask for a transfer. I know they must be obedient to the bishop, but are they "stuck" with their new assignment even if they do not want to go there? It is very hard for the people of God to adjust to new priests, and I am sure it is equally difficult for priests themselves to pick up and move on so often. Perhaps it is a grace that God gives them, the gift of detachment. Thanks for reading this Brother, and may God continue to bless you and this wonderful ministry of yours.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Janine: The Liturgy Q&A Forum is open. The Defending the Faith Forum is awaiting a qualified person to volunteer to be host. The Faith and Spirituality Forum is the proper place for your question. This forum is the place for all questions that do not fit into one of the other forums. As for your question, I really cannot answer it. Each Bishop has his own way of assigning priests to parishes and for how long. Priest may express an interest in one parish or another, but the Bishop makes his decision as he wills. A priest may, however, technically turn down an assignment, I think, and ask the Bishop to be re-assigned before his term is finished. Ultimately the priest is under obedience to his Bishop. I am sure that the Bishop considers many things in making assignments including the needs of the parish, the talents and gifts of the priest, the needs of the diocese, etc. If there is a shortage of priests in a particular diocese then the Bishop's task is hard since there are fewer choices to make the right fit all the time for a parish. As for the length of time in a parish assignment I have heard several time frames, usually around 5-7 years. But, there can be many reasons for the Bishop to keep a pastor in his assignment for longer, such as a shortage of priests, or special needs of the parish, etc. I know that it can be difficult for a parish to get use to a new pastor, but one reason that priests are rotated through parishes is to prevent personality cults. Our loyalties need to always be with Christ and his Church and not toward a particular priest. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

How Pastors are chosen by the Bishop

Janine

Friday, November 16, 2007

Question:

This isn't really a faith question, but there isn't any other area to put this questions to (by the way, will you be opening up other topics again soon, such as defending the faith and liturgy, etc.?)

My question is one that I am sure many parishioners often wonder about. It is the procedure or process by which a bishop assigns priests and pastors to parishes within the diocese. What is the minimum term a pastor usually serves a parish as well as a a maximum term? How does a bishop base his decision on assigning pastors, and do priests have any input themselves as to where they will serve?

Our pastor has been there going on 15 years, and others in our diocese have served only 4 or 5.

Lastly, can priests request any parishes to serve and if they truly do not like where they are assigned for whatever reason, can they ask for a transfer. I know they must be obedient to the bishop, but are they "stuck" with their new assignment even if they do not want to go there?

It is very hard for the people of God to adjust to new priests, and I am sure it is equally difficult for priests themselves to pick up and move on so often. Perhaps it is a grace that God gives them, the gift of detachment. Thanks for reading this Brother, and may God continue to bless you and this wonderful ministry of yours.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Janine:

The Liturgy Q&A Forum is open. The Defending the Faith Forum is awaiting a qualified person to volunteer to be host.

The Faith and Spirituality Forum is the proper place for your question. This forum is the place for all questions that do not fit into one of the other forums.

As for your question, I really cannot answer it. Each Bishop has his own way of assigning priests to parishes and for how long.

Priest may express an interest in one parish or another, but the Bishop makes his decision as he wills. A priest may, however, technically turn down an assignment, I think, and ask the Bishop to be re-assigned before his term is finished. Ultimately the priest is under obedience to his Bishop.

I am sure that the Bishop considers many things in making assignments including the needs of the parish, the talents and gifts of the priest, the needs of the diocese, etc. If there is a shortage of priests in a particular diocese then the Bishop's task is hard since there are fewer choices to make the right fit all the time for a parish.

As for the length of time in a parish assignment I have heard several time frames, usually around 5-7 years. But, there can be many reasons for the Bishop to keep a pastor in his assignment for longer, such as a shortage of priests, or special needs of the parish, etc.

I know that it can be difficult for a parish to get use to a new pastor, but one reason that priests are rotated through parishes is to prevent personality cults. Our loyalties need to always be with Christ and his Church and not toward a particular priest.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum