Team Work Makes the Dream Work

Friends, peace be with you.

For the sake of transparency, I feel like you deserve to be informed of some of the more challenging priest placement issues that are upcoming. Specifically, I am referring to the fact that there were 5 priests scheduled to be retiring in the summer of 2024 but only one man, God willing, to be ordained. That became even more complicated on September 21st when one of the priests who was slated to retire next summer, Fr. Rick Dagitt, was found dead in his rectory. I should be very clear in saying that this does not mean either Saint Patrick’s or any of the parishes in Cedar Rapids should be concerned that they will close. I have not heard even the slightest whiff of a rumor indicating parish closures. However, it takes no imagination to see that we priests are going to continue to get more and more stretched thin and that some accommodations may have to be made somewhere as a result.

Archbishop Jackals used to say that, with regard to planning for the future, we need to think outside of the box but inside the circle. By this he meant, when it comes to vocations to priesthood, we should not dwell on solutions which have been determined by the Holy See as not to be allowable. In other words, we are not going to talk about married priests or women priests because this is essentially settled teaching. It probably goes without saying that we are also not going to be talking about transgender or other, active LGBTQIA+ people becoming priests. The expectation is, it will still only be men who are willing to live a celibate lifestyle who will be ordained

What CAN we do? First, continue doing what you folks in Cedar Rapids have done better than anywhere else in the Archdiocese of Dubuque: pray for and encourage your sons and nephews and grandsons to consider becoming priests. Second, before you complain about something, ask yourself if it’s really important enough to complain about. I deal with so many complaints that are really minor inconveniences for people. I remember learning that one of our families with a person in a wheelchair was parking on the other side of the chapel and pushing him through the faith formation wing, across the parking lot and up the ramp of the rectory because the speed bumps in the alley were too large for their van. That was something very worthy of my time and attention and I thank the family for emailing me and letting me know. But there are many other people who think they need to call or email or put a comment on Facebook about much smaller inconveniences. Lastly, to paraphrase John F. Kennedy, ask not what your church can do for you but what you can do for your church. If having a parish is important to you, show up at Mass, actively participate there by singing or saying the responses and prayers, sign up for an hour of adoration, if you see a mess help clean it up, and do other things that help build up your church. Team work makes the dream work and we can make a great team when we work together to build up the kingdom. Know of my prayers!