Coping with Parish Downsizing

Living in a quasi-rural area has its challenges, and one of them is adjusting to the closure of churches.  Last summer we were blessed to have an associate Pastor assigned to our Parish; fresh faced and straight out of seminary he was able to share the work of our Pastor.  Yet just as we got to know him, our Bishop decided to move him after serving us for one year.  With a cluster of six churches spread over a 50-mile radius, the difficult decision was made to close half the churches, some of which had been in constant operation for 100 years. Unlike some urban areas where churches close due to a shrinking congregation (e.g. a once thriving Irish or Polish community is replaced with people of other faiths), our churches were all well attended. 

It was not for lack of sheep, but for the lack of shepherds.  Even in Jesus time, he noted that the laborers are few as we read in Matthew 9:35-38: 

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness.  When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest."

My church was not affected, but I feel for those who spent their entire life in one location where they were baptized, confirmed, worshipped and often married.  The families that originally sacrificed to have a church built for their community are no longer alive, but their children and grandchildren are, and now those memories of multi-generational worshipping as a family are just that; memories. 

What can we do?

Pray for more Shepherds.  We pray each week at the Mass that God increase vocations, yet perhaps we should be praying daily as well. Recent studies indicate that American seminary enrollment is up, but still 50% less than 40 years ago.  And as with any other vocation or occupation, priests retire too, and their clerical vestments require filling.

Pray for your Pastor & Bishop.  It is no easy task to be a priest or bishop.  The work is demanding physically, mentally and spiritually and frequently exceeds the demands of a 9 to 5 job.  And when a pastor must tend to multiple flocks in various locations the work-related stress can take a toll. They need our prayers daily.

Pray for the Priesthood.  In recent decades the priestly vocation has lost much of the prestige it once held just a few decades ago.  Those few who committed evil in the sight of God and humanity cast a dark shadow over a genuinely holy vocation. In addition, there are far more alluring careers available to our young men to which a life of sacrifice is not required. Working full-time for the Lord means no marriage, no children, and none of the profitable perquisites that can accompany a secular career.  

Even at this moment we may all pray this prayer posted on the USCCB website:

Gracious and loving God, we thank you for the gift of our priests.

Through them, we experience your presence in the sacraments.

Help our priests to be strong in their vocation.

Set their souls on fire with love for your people.

Grant them the wisdom, understanding, and strength they need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

Inspire them with the vision of your Kingdom.

Give them the words they need to spread the Gospel.

Allow them to experience joy in their ministry.

Help them to become instruments of your divine grace.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns as our Eternal Priest.

Amen.