How priests get their parish assignments

Brian T. Olszewski reports in our Catholic Herald.

According to Fr. Brian Mason, associate vicar for clergy, the process is priest-driven.

That's candid; no pretending that it's mission-driven.

In November, all diocesan priests were sent a questionnaire in which they were asked to state their intentions for spring. Response options included staying where they were; seeking to renew their assignments, if their first term was coming to an end; and seeking a new parish if their second term was coming to an end.

Moving after one six-year term isn't mentioned, though it seems like the logical choice if a pastor can't stay for life.

The assignments are suggested to the Archbishop by a six member placement board.

"You know why a priest would do well in a particular parish," Fr. Mason said of the different perspectives members bring to the board.

"You know" meaning the board members think they know.

Fr. Mason visited each of the parishes where the pastor was leaving. He consulted with the parish’s paid staff and with its parish council. The parish also developed a profile of itself.

Sure sounds good unless you know how haphazard the actual process can be.

According to Fr. Mason, the placement board has two key questions for priests in transition.

"What parishes would you be willing to serve? What parishes would you definitely not be willing to serve?"

The parish listings ought to include everything ever said about each parish in this process. Even without the commenting priests' names, it might also provide insight into priests' outlook, for example, the prevailing level of commitment to parish schools.

The board also recommends placement of associate pastors, including the five newly-ordained priests.

"We ask, 'What are you looking forward to doing as priests?'" Fr. Mason said. "They’re also upfront as to what intimidates them."

I assume they all answer the first question "Serving the people" and the second "Dealing with the people."

"Some of the questions we ask are, 'Is this going to be a good first assignment for this newly-ordained priest? Who is the pastor? What is the parish community like? What is the staff like?'" Fr. Mason said.

I'd like to hear those opinions about St. Al's pastor, parish community, and staff.

Fr. Mason estimated that the placement board met at least a dozen times since last fall, in addition to doing the preparation required for each meeting.

"This is above and beyond their regular work," he said. "They receive no compensation for this."

If you see compensation only in terms of money. I will gladly pay them as much money as I received for the same amount of time spent on Parish Counci.