Imagine no priests to celebrate Mass

Cincinnati Enquirer ^ | May 02, 2004 | Dan Horn and Denise Smith Amos

[Incorrigible]

As an EM in my Jesuit high school (http://www.stpetersprep.org) and my involvement in the social ministries department at my Jesuit university (http://www.mu.edu), I was encouraged more than a few times to pursue a vocation.

I thought long and hard about it.

In a way I wish I had at least went to the "Jesuit Summer Camp" but now I see that I probably would have been a fish out of water (I was pretty conservative back then too) and perhaps it would have impacted my faith negatively.

[Quix]

Oh, that's right,

Roman congregations don't believe in the

PRIESTHOOD of the Believer.

My forgetfulness.

[The Great RJ]

There are a lot of reasons for this shortage. First all the kumbayas and hootinanny masses of the 1960's failed to develop a strong faith in many younger people then and their kids today. The toleration of abuse by clergy has driven out a lot of people and has also driven down donations. Bad fiscal management and strong arm fundraising has caused a lot of bankrupcies among parrishes --every little parrish building and maintaining a Catholic school was folly 30 years ago yet it continues.

I also agree it is time again for a married priesthood.

[Investment Biker]

I also have a Jesuit education. St Xaxier HS and Xavier University. What is MU.edu, the link is broken.

[Coleus]

Pray for Vocations.

In the Diocese of Paterson, NJ, there are only 5 priests under the age of 40 which will serve 111 Parishes!

[Incorrigible]

Is that Xavier HS in Buffalo, NY?

http://www.mu.edu works for me. It's Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI. BSEE 1987.

[sinkspur]

The Jebbies? Man, you're talking about the Marines of the priesthood.

I was in a seminary for seven years. Just couldn't commit to celibacy at the age of 25.

At the age of 53, I could, and have, as a deacon, if my wife goes before me.

Laymen are taking up the challenge; they'll have to, if this downward spiral continues.

My pastor told me two weeks ago that the bishop is going to spread the deacons out as pastoral administrators, in priestless parishes, for liturgical purposes.

So, I'll likely have a parish in a year or two, at which I'll conduct Sunday Celebrations in the absence of a priest a couple times a month.

[Investment Biker]

Now I see, That is a Marquette link. My uncle went there.

[sinkspur]

In the Diocese of Paterson, NJ, there are only 5 priests under the age of 40 which will serve 111 Parishes!

In 20 years, you guys will have Mass once a month, and Communion services the other three Sundays, conducted by a deacon, or by laymen.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Seminaries for traditional priests are filled beyond capacity. Until the aging revolutionaries catch a clue and return to the Faith, diocesan vocations will continue their downward plunge. The post-conciliar Church is committing suicide.

Married priests are an entirely separate issue.

[Investment Biker]

Cincinnati.

[ladyjane]

In the Diocese of Paterson, NJ, there are only 5 priests under the age of 40 which will serve 111 Parishes!

And what percentage of them are straight? This is not meant to be a nasty question. I am dead serious. Dead serious.

[Coleus]

In 20 years, you guys will have Mass once a month, and Communion services the other three Sundays, conducted by a deacon, or by laymen.>>

Sadly, you are right. And what about the availability for confession and last rights?

[Redleg Duke]

Target hit!

[Incorrigible]

The Jebbies? Man, you're talking about the Marines of the priesthood.

Yes... I have a lot of admiration for the men who educated me so well (and my parents who paid for it!).  I loved my high school and until my son's Autism diagnosis, I was consistently the biggest donor from my year.  I did the donation phone call-downs with a friend from my year who is now a teacher there.

Like many schools, it's mostly lay people that are administrators and teachers there now.  The dress code is more relaxed too.  No more mandatory ties and jackets.  I pass by the place frequently since I have accounts in downtown Jersey City.

However, as I would learn, Marquette, way out in the midwest, was the last respite for conservative Jesuits.  Georgetown, Boston College, Fordham and St. Peter's College (in Jersey City) are the typical destinations of my high school's grads and unfortunately, these places are overrun with Liberation Theology Jesuits.  Thankfully I told my guidance counselor I wanted to be an engineer.

Despite the Liberal leanings of the younger priests that taught me, they still enforced logical thought upon all of us.  I'm forever indebted.

[Conservative til I die]

In 20 years, you guys will have Mass once a month, and Communion services the other three Sundays, conducted by a deacon, or by laymen.

Remember when Ted Danson was on Letterman in like 1989 and said all stern-faced that because of global warming, all life on earth will be extinguished in ten years?

I do.

[RFT1]

Mt former parish in Sacramento CA has around 800 parishoners, served by 3 FSSP priests, withe a Carmelite priest that shows up every Sunday, plus one young man in the seminary with more to enter.Vocations are a problem only in some areas.

[ColoradoSlim]

I do too sometimes. I meant no offense.

[Roy Tucker]

Don't call us, we'll call you.

[ColoradoSlim]

I'm sorry sir no one told me it was the Catholics only club all other Christians can go to hell.
If you don't want anybody else opinion don't post your conversations in a very public forum.