Priests adjusting to new parish models, too
Priests of the Diocese of Peoria met for their fall Assembly Days at the Spalding Pastoral Center in Peoria Oct. 22-23. The Catholic Post/Paul Thomas Moore
The agenda of the fall priest Assembly Days (Oct. 22—23) for the Diocese of Peoria might have been characterized as, “Let’s not kid ourselves that something big didn’t just happen.”
I have appreciated the acknowledgement that each person needs to think about what has actually been lost, and to find some way to wrestle with that.” — Father Ryan Mattingly
The “something big” was the announcement of the new parish models by Bishop Louis Tylka at Pentecost as part of Growing Disciples pastoral planning process.
Father Ryan Mattingly is pastor of St. Patrick, Seneca; St. Mary of the Fields, Grand Ridge; St. Joseph, Marseilles; and St. Patrick, Ransom. He said St. Patrick, Ransom has been relegated to not in use, and St. Mary of the Fields, Grand Ridge will no longer have Mass, though it will remain a sacred space.
“I have appreciated the acknowledgement that each person needs to think about what has actually been lost, and to find some way to wrestle with that and come to terms with it,” he said.
NOT RUSHING EMOTIONAL ADJUSTMENT
Prior to July 1, 2024, Father Mattingly had been pastor of St. Luke, Eureka and St. Joseph, Roanoke. These parishes have also been relegated to not in use, and will merge with St. Mary of Metamora. “There’s a lot of things in flux,” he acknowledged.
It’s a change and transition for us.” — Father David Kipfer
St. Mary of Metamora pastor Father David Kipfer agreed with the necessity of not rushing through the emotional adjustment process. He thought the Assembly Days talks and table discussions would help encourage a heightened awareness “of people’s feelings and emotions, and not only just for our people … but also for priests. It’s a change and transition for us.”
The priests were assisted in their reflections by witness and input from Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles.
DON’T BYPASS HUMAN WORK
Father Kipfer said he particularly liked a comment made by Sister Mary Louise Marck, whom he paraphrased as saying, “Don’t spiritually bypass the human work …. We have to do some things to go through change.”
Matt Rudolph, co-founder of Assembly Days facilitator Chrism, in discussion with Father Patrick Wille, parochial vicar of St. Mary Parish in Moline. The Catholic Post/Paul Thomas Moore
Matt Rudolph of Chrism, which provides ongoing formation of clergy and seminarians, helped to facilitate the Assembly Days’ sessions on transition and discipleship in partnership with the Diocese of Peoria.
“Priests feel very responsible for helping their parishioners and others with their own spiritual lives,” Rudolph said. “The team that put this (Assembly Days) vision together wanted to give priests time and space to recognize where they’re at personally.”
