Back to Newslist
No one better die

 November 2, 2009

San Francisco feels pressure of priest shortage

Editor: the following story appeared in Catholic San Francisco on October 16.

In comparison to many other Catholic dioceses in the United States, the archdiocese of San Francisco has had relatively little difficulty in providing enough active priests to serve the pastoral needs of its faithful.

The ministry of priests from other countries at parishes in the archdiocese has, for many years, filled the gap between the archdiocese’s need for new priests and the number of its ordinations to the priesthood each year. So far the archdiocese has been spared the most serious effects of a priest shortage seen in some other regions of the country, where more than 18 percent of parishes do not have a resident priest.

But the demographics of an aging resident clergy combined with a lower number of annual ordinations are putting pressure on the archdiocese’s ability to meet the needs of parishes. The archdiocesan directory lists 44 priests ordained in the decade 1970-79, while the comparable listing for the decade 2000-09 shows 22 priests.

“I’ve been vicar of clergy for two-and-a-half years, and a priest ministering in the archdiocese for 41 years,” said San Francisco Auxiliary Bishop William Justice, “and this is the first year that I’ve said to priests, in a joking manner, ‘No one can get seriously ill or die. That’s an order.’ Because we don’t have anybody to replace them.”

Bishop Justice, who carries the responsibilities of Vicar for Clergy, paused, and then added in a serious tone: “We’ve got to continue to do some serious planning.”

For complete story click here.

Copyright California Catholic Daily 2009. All Rights Reserved.

Back to Newslist