When I am asked, “What does a Vicar for Clergy do?” I respond that I assist Bishop Dennis Sullivan with his responsibility of caring for and overseeing the priests and deacons incardinated in (connected with) the Diocese of Camden, or those who serve and live within the Diocese. I explain that I consider what I “do” as ministry to our clergy, which for the priests, encompasses their time from when they are young and newly ordained, through active ministry, until they transition into retirement and ultimately, when the “time of … departure is at hand.” (2 Tim 4:6)
In my reply, I share examples of the variety of experiences, encounters, communications, meetings and events involved with my ministry that offer direction, support, challenge and opportunity for a priest as he continues to develop spiritually, intellectually, pastorally and as a human person. When I conclude my spiel, the individual often comments, “So, you’re the HR person for the priests?” To which, I smile and concede, “You can say that.”
However, more than simply a human resources agent, I am a brother to the clergy and a priest myself. I understand the complex reality of priestly ministry, lived out in a fusion of the holy and human, the positive and negative: the joys and fulfillment of service mixed with the responsibilities and burdens of administrative and pastoral care. I am aware of the struggle to be “all things to all, to save at least some” (1 Cor 9:22) as a limited, imperfect man, which can lead to a self-generated judgment of failure or burnout, or worse, a perception of futility and an attitude of dissociation.
Agreeing with the sentiments of Bishop Sullivan, I, and certainly many of you reading this article, have great concern for our priests, both now and in the not-too-distant future. The decades-long deterioration of the number of men responding to a call from God to serve as priests in the Church is finally and rapidly affecting priestly ministry in the Diocese of Camden, causing drastic changes in ministerial experiences while placing greater strain on the active clergy. Christ’s words ring true resoundingly today: “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.” (Mt 9:37)
I offer the following statistics. See Chart:
This chart shows the potential number of diocesan priests for the next 10 years. The second column lists the number of priests for each year if all current diocesan priests remain in active ministry until the retirement age of 75.
However, for various reasons, some priests do not minister to the age of 75. Some cease active ministry in their early 70s and some prior to that. The third column lists the number of priests each year, assuming active priestly ministry ends at an average age of 72.
The fourth column lists the number of potential ordinations for each year if all the current seminarians studying for the Diocese of Camden receive and accept the call to Holy Orders. The potential ordinations for years 2031 and 2032 will depend on the number of men who enter the seminary in 2023 and 2024, and are ordained.
In light of this, you can see how quickly the number of active, diocesan priests will dwindle, so much that in 2028 there could be only 66 diocesan priests to serve in the 62 parishes, three missions, five high schools and Chancery offices of the Diocese. And it gets worse from there!
These figures contributed greatly to the difficult decision made by Bishop Sullivan to restrict the number of Sunday Masses in each parish beginning July 2023. There were other reasons, such as the hope to create an experience of worship with fuller Churches and healthier liturgical ministries, which will foster a deeper sense of both community with one another and communion with the Lord. However, the lack of vocations to the priesthood and the wellbeing of our current priests was a prevailing factor for issuing the Decree.
At this point, I must acknowledge the heroic effort of our present-day retired priests who continue to regularly assist with the sacramental and pastoral needs within our Diocese, providing a significant level of relief to the active clergy. Their priestly ministry is greatly appreciated, but it is a limited solution to the ministerial demands that face the clergy, for the number of retired priests capable to assist in parishes diminishes each year.
Similarly, I would be remiss if I failed to recognize the many international priests who have “left everything” to serve in the Diocese of Camden. Their missionary spirit and commitment to service has allowed our Diocese to maintain a consistent level of priestly activity. However, the time, effort and cost to obtain the proper immigration documents for each of these priests is substantial. Additionally, once here in the United States, there is the investment of time to help these priests with transitioning as they acclimate to American culture. In the end, after the exertion of much time and effort, the majority of these priests must return to their home dioceses within five years of arriving, and the arduous process begins again.
In presenting these statistics, my intention is to alert all of us to the serious circumstances we face NOW, not eventually, regarding priestly ministry. With this knowledge, I hope greater understanding can be expressed in the ongoing decisions for pastoral planning.
It is not my intention to leave you with a feeling of gloom and doom, for that is not consistent with the attitude of a true Christian. Therefore, allow me to both encourage and challenge you!
The Church has been through many dark days in her 2,000-year history, and the lesson learned is that God is in control. Strengthened by the virtues of faith, hope and love, and relying on the grace of God, we must remain positive and trust that “all things are possible” (Mt 19:26), while we continue to pray and offer sacrifices for an increase in priestly vocations in our Diocese.
Priesthood is a gift from our loving God. The life of a priest, lived in a healthy, balanced way is fulfilling and provides purpose for those called. The priests ordained for our Diocese in recent years and our seminarians persevering through the formation program are faithful men who are considered radicals by their contemporaries for choosing a life of service in the Church. Our Diocese may lack a quantity of seminarians and young priests, but we are certainly fortunate for the quality of these men. Their commitment and example gives hope for the future.
That’s the encouragement.
The challenge is to ask you: Do you regularly pray and/or offer sacrifices for more men to say “yes” to the Lord and serve the Church (the People of God) as a priest? Have you ever encouraged a young man to consider a priestly vocation – your son, grandson, friend or relative? Does your life inspire others to grow closer to God? Are you involved in your parish community with the mission to serve the poor, feed the hungry, visit the sick and imprisoned, teach the faith, comfort the grieving, etc., in a collaborative endeavor with the clergy, by which you also offer them support? Do you express your appreciation for the priests who serve you with words of gratitude and affirmation?
Effective, positive change, in conformity to the will of God, requires a “both and” approach; we must both pray and act. Saint Augustine is accredited with the quote, “Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.” I implore you to pray that the hearts of those being called by God have the courage to say “yes” and that the Lord of the harvest strengthens our efforts to promote the priesthood. The Divine encountering the human, the spiritual lived out in the practical – that is when miracles are realized!
Father Nicholas Dudo is the Vicar for Clergy for the Diocese of Camden.
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