Saturday, August 12, 2006
Ask some priests of large parishes what they think of that. Many do. But others recognize they are not as well-educated nor as inclined to oversee liturgy. If you have a choir or two, somebody has to run it, and usually it's not the priest. I oversee about 550 volunteers in my parish. The parish priests are a part of that, certainly. But most priests couldn't care less about the details I get done. I'm sure they could do a creditable job, and in a few cases, do it better than me. But I'm employed for the same reason a principal, a janitor, a youth minister, or a school teacher would be. We are extensions of the pastoral ministry of Christ to a particular parish community. We serve people and are answerable to our pastor.
Doubtless, there are some parishioners who feel I'm a useless appendage in my parish. They're welcome to their opinion, even if they make it to an influential parish committee. But I doubt they're going to get rid of me short of my retirement, death, relocation, or a grave professional blunder. But it doesn't matter. I still serve them and pray for them daily.
