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Published: July 3, 2009
'Massive move' of priests in Diocese of Sacramento
Laity numbers soaring
Sacramento (Sacramento Bee)
Bishop Jaime Soto has reassigned a quarter of the Sacramento diocese's priests, the largest number ever moved at one time.
 This week, 48 priests in the Catholic Diocese of Sacramento will pack up their vestments and their chalices and move to new churches. Some will leave parishes where they have served the same families for years. Others, who have been assistants or parochial vicars, will become pastors for the first time. One priest is coming out of retirement.
The moves affect nearly two-thirds of the diocesan parishes, with 63 out of 103 welcoming new priests this Sunday.
"This is a massive move all at once," said the Rev. Tim Nondorf, priest-secretary to the bishop. "We're all kind of sitting in amazement that this is happening."
The diocese, which stretches from the Oregon border to Vacaville, serves more than 900,000 Catholics. Many parishioners have mixed emotions about the changes.
"I'll pray for our new priest, but I don't understand this," said Gracriela Hernandez, who attends Holy Cross Catholic Church in Arbuckle. "Our church is growing and doing well. Why change?"
Soto, who said he has received letters or phone calls about nearly every move, said the complaints show how much parishioners care.
"I know few things are as anxiety-producing, or have more impact on a parish community, than moving a priest – especially when they are loved," said Soto. "We ask not only for patience but also for prayers as we do the best job that we can."
Soto said the large number of priests moving is due to the retirements and also his desire to reassign priests twice a year instead of monthly as has been done in the past. Soto said he believes moving the priests Jan. 1 and July 1 will give diocesan leaders more options when reassigning priests by drawing from a larger pool for future openings.
"I'm hoping that the next round of changes won't be as intense," said Soto. "I know this has not been easy for parishioners or for the priests."
While the number of priests in the diocese has remained steady, the number of Catholics in the area has soared, creating a bigger demand.
"There are a number of priest retirements on the horizon and we have to prepare the younger ones to assume these responsibilities," said Soto.
Posted Friday, July 03, 2009 6:01 AM By Allan Wafkowski
We Catholics need to rethink the Vatican II understanding of retiring priests. The priesthood is not something that is put on in youth and then shod like an old shoe in old age. When does a priest cease to become a priest? For the good of parishioners and priest alike, we should never retire a priest from active duty unless he is incapacitated.
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Posted Friday, July 03, 2009 9:30 AM By Willi H
I will never understand why the church "retires" priests, Bishops, and Religious as if service to the Church is a job like any other. If these servants of God are physically and mentally able to perform their duties to God's people they should continue to do so. To many parishes are without pastors. And the church should quit "concelebrations" of Holy Mass. Four priests serving at the same Mass means four separate Masses could have be performed for the flock.
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Posted Friday, July 03, 2009 9:48 AM By JOE
WHOW WHAT AN EARTHQUAKE FOR THE SACRAMENTO DIOCESE BUT YOU HAVE TO CREDIT THE BISHOP TO KNOW WHAT HE IS DOING -- FOR THE GOOD OF THE PRIESTHOOD AND THE FAITHFUL OF THE DIOCESE. I KNOW THAT MANY PRIESTS AND PARISHIONERS THINK IT IS A BAD MOVE...HAVE FAITH THAT OUR LORD WILL. PROFIT FROM THIS MOVEMENT. MAY GOD, OUR LORD JESUS AND THE HOLY SPIRIT BLESS THIS CHANGE.
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Posted Friday, July 03, 2009 10:02 AM By FrWayne
On this feast of St Thomas, the doubter, he might be a great example to those who do not understand the moves. As a priest myself, not one of my change of assignments was expected and no move was easy. One was a downright failure! But I always believed, as flawed as the human reasons might have been for the moves, that I should trust the moves as part of faith. Abraham and all of our faith heros were called to a "new place" And we can get VERY comfortable in our "kingdoms"
Change and loss is always painful. It is a part of loving. My last change -after 14 years in one place - almost felt like a death. For the people and for myself. One must acknowledge the human struggles that accompany the journey - I pray for the priests - I think so many of the good laity give them the love and support upon which they so greatly depend. I pray for Bishop Soto - I'm sure he gets it from all sides!
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Posted Friday, July 03, 2009 10:14 AM By OneoftheSheep
I know that our parish will greatly miss the wonderful services of Fr. Andrew Koziczuk. He has been a spiritual father to all of us at Presentation Parish of the Blessed Virgin Mary. His next parishes in Isleton: St.Theresa of the Child Jesus and St. Anthonys will be blessed by this holy priest of ours.
All we can say is: Jesus, I trust in you.
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Posted Friday, July 03, 2009 11:58 AM By lome
Dear bishop Soto,
Complacency, lukewarmness can't continue at the expense of the faithful entrusted to the care of the church!
It's a common knowledge about the damages done to our faith because of infiltrations in Rome by the enemies of the church. After Vatican 2.
It's high noon for the Vatican to start separating the sheep from the goats. It not actually that complicated anymore. The arrogance and voluntary declarations of their skewed theology by these clergies are unbelievably daring.
Like the blinds leading the blinds too many are falling in the waysides. The errors of Vatican 2 are now a common knowledge but even this was prophesied to occur at the end times that if possible to mislead even the elect. So there is no surprise here. Since also the Roman Catholic Church being not naïve to persecutions.
So please like we are telling those who should know better, the likes of SSPX, Clergies the likes of Padre Pio, Nuns the like of mother Theresa, father Corapi and many more, let your light be seen? To those in the dark….
Help the pope in uniting and bringing back the glories that once belong to the Church.
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Posted Saturday, July 04, 2009 9:27 AM By BJ
Let us pray for our many holy, dedicated and wonderful priests in the Diocese of Sacramento. God be Good to Fathers Simon Twomey and Michael Newman as they retire.
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Posted Sunday, July 05, 2009 9:37 AM By Ann
If a bunch of yentas are running the show - beware! I pity the priest who walks into that situation. Growing up in a large Catholic parish (3 - 4 priests minimum), we were always taught that the priests and nuns were there temporarily. Our bishop wisely moved the assistants after 2 to 3 years of guidance from the pastor. Particular friendships and petty jealousy among families were, therefore, avoided. It also seems to me that parishioners who expect frequent reassignments would be more welcoming to a new priest and less hostile to a new style of managing the parish.
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Posted Sunday, July 05, 2009 3:06 PM By Kathy
Strangers and sojourners -- aren't we all? So that we look to God first, for everything? So attachments to people, places, things, aren't formed, that begin to overshadow Him? So that complacency doesn't develop?
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Posted Monday, July 06, 2009 10:46 AM By Ron
It is for the common good that Priests are periodically relocated. It is a test of faithful. Are they attached to their Catholic faith or to their Priests? God bless Bishop Jaime Soto.
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Posted Monday, July 06, 2009 1:42 PM By James
Were the parishoners getting to closely attached to their priests? By what numbers has the dioceses of catholics in Sacramento soared to?
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Posted Thursday, July 09, 2009 9:20 AM By Chris
Dear Bishop Soto,
It must have taken a lot of courage and prayer on your part knowing you would get some negative reactions for the move of the priests. Thank you for having that courage, we need more who are willing to act such as even when faced with the possibility of negative reactions especially from those we love.
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Posted Thursday, July 09, 2009 9:21 AM By Chris
Dear Bishop Soto,
It must have taken a lot of courage and prayer on your part knowing you would get some negative reactions for the move of the priests. Thank you for having that courage, we need more who are willing to act such as even when faced with the possibility of negative reactions especially from those we love.
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Posted Thursday, July 09, 2009 9:22 AM By Chris
Dear Bishop Soto,
It must have taken a lot of courage and prayer on your part knowing you would get some negative reactions for the move of the priests. Thank you for having that courage, we need more who are willing to act such as even when faced with the possibility of negative reactions especially from those we love.
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Posted Friday, July 10, 2009 8:23 PM By Richard Flores
Thank You, Bishop Soto for having the insight to understand the long-term needs of your flock and the courage to enact them!
I pray that your flock continues to grow with your holy guidance!
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