Priestly calls often follow altar service
BY FR. MIKE BOMBAK, CATHOLIC REGISTER SPECIAL
October 5, 2023
This week the Benedict XVI Institute for New Evangelization presented a new study: “Meet Our New Priests: 12 Key Findings about the Background, Discernment and Seminary Formation of Canada’s Recent Ordination Classes.”
The structure of the survey was modeled upon the USCCB study of new ordinands which has been conducted since 1998. The Institute’s study examined the two Canadian graduating classes of 2021 and 2022, with an average of 13 ordinands per year, including both diocesan and religious priests. Although this work has been conducted for many years in the United States, this is a novel Canadian project, and one which bares important information related to the direction and formation for our future priests. I encourage reading of the document itself. Here is a summary of a few of the significant findings.
A topic of conversation often raised regarding pastoral planning and parish administration is the priest shortage. Indeed, a tangible sign of the health of any diocese or eparchy is the ability to produce homegrown vocations. An invaluable insight provided by this study is an understanding of just how pronounced the vocation deficit is.
To assist in forecasting a region’s pastoral needs, the Vatican’s Central Office of Church Statistics established a replacement ratio for seminarians to priests (RRSP) which considers the number of seminarians typically needed to replace current active priests.
Using this ratio, the study has established the need for 735 seminarians compared with our current 211. In other words, to maintain our population of priests in Canada, our seminarian population must increase by 3.57 times. We have our work cut out for us in encouraging and nurturing priestly vocations, and this finding is essential for our planning, despite the daunting magnitude of the problem.
Another significant finding addresses the question of what is already working in drawing men to the priesthood. The study identified that 70 per cent of the all the respondents participated in altar serving. This commonality was significantly higher than the next closest ministry of Lector (61 per cent) and substantially higher than those in third place (Catechist, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and Music Ministry, all at 26 per cent). The commonality is not simply a question of Canadian context. The American respondents produced a very similar statistic of 73 per cent. The unique experience of serving as an acolyte seems to encourage and support young men in discerning a call to the priesthood.
Perhaps some of the most helpful facets of the study are the questions posed to the participants about the strengths and weaknesses of their formation program. Participants identified the Spiritual Formation Pillar as the strongest (direction, retreats, Eucharist, priestly identity) while Human Formation was considered by the participants to be the weakest, with greater specific need identified as leadership training and practical administration training etc.
Considering the speed at which newly ordained men assume pastorship, our seminarians would benefit from a more focused leadership training program.
Of course, human formation has as its foundation the family, and the report provides some excellent background research into the families of the new ordinands. Half of the respondents had either a priest or religious in the family. Of all the voices that weighed most heavily in their vocational discernment, mothers and fathers were listed just below parish priests — 78 per cent for parish priests, and 74 per cent for mothers and fathers — in response to the question: “Have the following people encouraged you to consider priesthood?”).
Pope St. John Paul II famously stated: “As the family goes, so goes the nation, and so goes the whole world in which we live.” Certainly an important dimension of that world is future vocations to the priesthood, and it would behoove us to make more explicit the connections of the work of our diocesan Marriage and Family and Vocation Offices.
Although the report has many practical suggestions for increasing and supporting vocations, I would like to leave you with one. As altar serving holds a privileged place in the formation stories of the new ordinands, the creation of altar-serving guilds within parishes could cultivate a culture of fostering vocations. Although not mentioned in the study, I would similarly suggest the re-establishment of the minor orders as provided by the direction of the 1996 Instruction for the Eastern Churches. Serving around the altar in Eastern Catholic Churches has traditionally been reserved to subdeacons and reclaiming the minor orders would provide both a positive witness and “onsite training” for those discerning a future priestly calling.
The findings in “Meet our New Priests” will go a long way to help to inform and strengthen those involved in priestly formation, which is everyone! It is well worth time and study.
“Meet Our New Priests” was presented to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops plenary assembly Sept. 27
Statement by the Most Rev. William T. McGrattan, Bishop of Calgary and CCCB President, to the Catholic Faithful in Canada on the Recent Escalation of Conflict in the Holy Land
Over these last few days, the world has witnessed a rapid escalation of armed conflict in the Holy Land, with reports of a growing number of wounded or dead, including innocent civilians.
As the Holy Land is immersed in this violence and bloodshed, we remember that Jesus, the Son of God, who lived and walked there as Love Incarnate, through His teaching by word and deed, calls us as brothers and sisters to be always united by the bond of charity.
I invite the Catholic faithful in Canada to join other people of good will, here and around the world, in imploring God to move the hearts of those leaders engaged in the present conflict in order to deescalate the acts of terrorism, cease violence and war, and resume constructive efforts that are aimed at establishing lasting peace and concord. As we pray for peace, let us remember all the families and individuals suffering because of this most recent outbreak of violence.
As Christians we are compelled by the teachings and example of Jesus to pray for peace throughout the world. In a fraternal spirit of solidarity with Christian, Jewish, and Muslim brothers and sisters, let us join together in recalling God’s desire for peace in the land that
Jesus Christ called home.
12 October 2023
HORIZON OF HOPE: A TOOLKIT FOR CATHOLIC PARISHES ON PALLIATIVE CARE
How does our faith in Christ help us to understand the human experience of dying and death?
You are invited to join this 4-part program OCT. 16, 23, 30 Nov. 6, 7:00 – 9:00 pm focusing on Catholic teaching regarding end of life care. We will share and discuss the importance of palliative care and learn more about how we can respond to our Christian call to provide compassionate care for our loved ones at the end of life.
Parishes and church groups across Alberta will connect virtually and in person. There will be two in person centres: St. Stephen Protomartyr parish hall, 4903 – 45 St., SW, Calgary AND St. Josaphat’s Cathedral basement, 10825 97th Street N.W. Edmonton.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND? Those seeking to learn about palliative care in the Catholic Church, caregivers, persons diagnosed with a terminal illness, family members who need guidance, parishioners & pastoral care teams.
REGISTER AT: https://tinyurl.com/Eparchyhorizonofhope2023 or find the link on the Edmonton Eparchy website. If you cannot attend in person, you are welcome to join virtually. You will receive the Zoom link when you register online.
CONTACT: socialjustice@eeparchy.com
Called to be Holy – Men’s Retreat/Conference
All Men! You are invited to attend the 8th annual “Called to be Holy,”
Oct 27 & 28, 2023
THE LITURGY OF LIFE; FROM TABLE TO MISSION
Join other men of faith to learn, laugh, and pray as you grow in faith. We are excited to welcome Fr. Matthew Hysell as our keynote speaker in the prayerful surroundings of Holy Spirit seminary!
In the Divine Liturgy we are nourished first by the Word of God and then ultimately in the Eucharist. From there we are sent out to the world. We will look closely at how our partaking in the Eucharist – being at the Table of Our Lord, prepares us to approach life with an attitude of thankfulness, evangelization, discipleship, and mission, whatever our place in the world may be.
DATES & TIMES: Oct 27, 6:30 pm – 8:15 pm., Oct 28, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.
LOCATION: Holy Spirit Seminary, 12909 – 113 Avenue NW., Edmonton.
COST:
Price includes Saturday breakfast, lunch and snacks. Optional Friday supper available for $20.00. CONTACT: Bernadette: 780-424-5496 or email: education@edmontoneparchy.com
REGISTRATION: Deadline to register is Oct 21. No late registrations will be accepted. Online: https://tinyurl.com/Calledtobeholy2023 or find the link on the Edmonton Eparchy website https://eeparchy.com/
A limited number of rooms are available for overnight stays. Register early if you want to stay at the seminary on Friday night.
Food Bank – Thank you for your generous donations towards the Food Bank. Edmonton Food Bank most needed items are beans with or without pork, canned meat, canned fish, canned fruit or vegetables, peanut butter, macaroni and cheese dinners, pasta and pasta sauce, cereal and oatmeal, school snacks such as juice boxes, fruit cups and granola bars. The parishioners of St. Nicholas Parish are encouraged to bring these items. Let’s see if we can FILL our Food Bank box again!!! Your generosity is much appreciated. Go St. Nicholas!
New Clergy Pastoral Assignments will take effect August 1, 2018 for a period of 5 years. One of the most important responsibilities of an eparchial bishop is to appoint a presbyter as a pastor to whom the care of souls in a given parish is committed as to its own shepherd. In order to assist Bishop David in this formidable task, an Ad hoc Clergy Personnel Committee has been established with the mandate to present for consideration a proposal of Clergy Pastoral Assignments. The members of the committee are: Rev. Rendy Yackimec, Chair, Right Rev. William Hupalo and Rev. Julian Bilyj.
The clergy are invited — after prayerful reflection, and having considered their own personal gifts and talents, as well as the needs of the Eparchy of Edmonton — to indicate by October 1, 2017, where they wish to be considered for appointment (including their current assignments), where they will be challenged in their ministry.
At the same time, the faithful of the Eparchy of Edmonton are invited to make a positive contribution in the process of naming pastors by sending their written comments to the Ad hoc Clergy Personnel Committee at chancery@edmontoneparchy.com by October 1, 2017.
While the right of appointing pastors belongs solely to the eparchial bishop, who freely appoints them, input from the laity is greatly valued.
Baptism and membership in the Church
When Jesus had accomplished everything he set out to do, and was about to return to the Father, he commissioned the Disciples, saying:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always.” (Matthew 28: 18-20)
Through baptism, we are constituted as the people of God.
Through baptism, we participate in the priestly, prophetic, and royal function of Christ.
Through baptism, we are called to exercise the mission which God has entrusted to the Church to fulfill in the world: to tell others the Good News of the Father’s love and mercy.
How seriously do we take our baptismal call?
From baptism to Christian discipleship
All to often today, we go through the motions of being followers of Christ. We attend Divine Liturgy on occasion. We call upon the pastor for First Holy Communion, a wedding or a funeral. We bless pussy willows, our Easter baskets, and undertake similar activities.
Perhaps influenced by the secular world around us, we have become consumers of the services provided by the parish, adopting an attitude of “What’s in it for me?” or “Go ahead, entertain me.”
Rather, through baptism. our membership in Christ’s Church calls for a commitment on the part of each of us to develop a personal relationship with Jesus, to foster our prayer life, and to use our God-given gifts of time, talent and treasure in the building up of the Christian community.
In other words, the rights we inherit as members of the Church are balanced by an equal obligation in continuing the mission of Christ entrusted to our care.
Baptism means being a disciple of Christ.
And being a disciple of Christ comes with certain expectations related to my membership in a given parish.
Parish membership and expectations
What then does it mean to be a parishioner? What are the expectations?
As a result of my baptism, in practicing my Christian discipleship, I am expected as a registered member of my parish to:
* regularly attend and participate in Sunday Divine Liturgy, together with my family;
* regularly participate in liturgical and sacramental life of the Church;
* develop and practice an ongoing personal/family prayer life;
* witness to the teachings of the Church by the manner of my living life;
* practice stewardship of my time, talent and treasure in the service to the mission of the Church;
* acknowledge, as a registered member, that I am to be a participant in serving the mission of the parish rather than being only a spectator; and
* realize the necessary and ongoing importance of love, generosity, faith and family.
Christ comes into the world to tell us of the mercy and love of the Father. Through baptism, we say: “yes, Lord, I choose to follow you by becoming an active disciple and parishioner. Thank you for the opportunity to serve You and my neighbour. Bless me!”
May 1, 2016
Eparchial Pastoral Council
