Father Pat Tucker
November 16, 2008

This Wednesday night is the parish meeting to discuss the future of the parish with our Vicar, Bishop Thomas Paproki and other priests who are part of the process of appointing pastors to parishes. While the ultimate say is with Cardinal George, our system tries to follow the Catholic principal of subsidiarity, which seeks to keep decisions relegated to the level closest to where they are going to be lived out.

The process of finding pastors for parishes has become more difficult over the years for quite a few reasons. First of all, the total number of priests is
down, and thus the number of priests who want to be pastors as well as the number of priests who are qualified to be pastors is lower. Even when there were several priests in almost every parish, there were always a some priests who felt that they did not want to, could not, or should not be pastors
of parishes.

Another factor is the blending (marrying) of a priest with a parish. Every parish has its own history and identity, and, obviously, every priest is a unique individual person as well. Just as couples learn that not every man and woman should be married to each other, so we cannot place just any priest in any parish. Language requirements indicate one level of obvious discernment, but issues like the role of women in liturgy and the role of the laity in the governance of the parish are matters that different priests have different ideas about, and responses to.

Another complication is the historic development of parishes in the diocese. Because Chicago attracted so many ethnic groups over the years, many parishes were formed to serve the different ethnic groups as they needed to become acculturated in their new land. Today the remnants of these ethnic parishes are all around us, without the need for so many of them. The lack of priests to staff them is also pertinent here.

And there is also to be considered the varying needs and expectations that people have for their pastor. Sometimes these can produce conflicting
expectations for a pastor and can create real tensions in a parish or in a parish staff. The parishioners have a right to let the powers that be know what their expectations are for a pastor, but they need to keep a sense of perspective and reality about the abilities of any one priest to fulfill all expectations.

I mention these things to encourage you to take the time on Wednesday to attend the meeting at 7:00 p.m. in Father Fearon Hall. The bishop and dean
will be particularly interested in determining the vitality of the parish. The level of interest in the future of the parish can be measured in many ways, but if few people feel that the next pastor’s identity and qualities are important, the powers that be may wonder whether it is important to sustain a parish, when there are other parishes close by with signs of greater vitality.
I am, of course, interested in the future of Saint Bernardine Parish. I have worked hard to guide and support the efforts of the parishioners for over thirteen years and would have liked to keep on doing it. However, the policy of the archdiocese takes precedence over priestly wishes, and so I also have to be interested in where I will be assigned for my (probably) final pastorate. I’ll be praying for the success of both my successor here, as well as my destination in June. I hope you will be doing the same.