What Does A Priest Do When He Runs Out Of His Congregation Literally?

[CatholicAtHeart]

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[wayseer]

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In Australia I think it depends on whether the priest is a rector or not.

A rector is guaranteed a job whereas the priest is not.

Knowing something of the state of play, I really don't think an otherwise unemployed priests have much to worry about due to the shortage.

 

[RadixLecti]

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This might be an idiomatic expression that I'm not familiar with. What do you mean by "runs out of the congregation literally"?

Does that mean that he resigned his position?

 

[MKJ]

I once had a priest that actually ran away. He packed up his stuff from the rectory and left in the night to another province. I think he was put on some sort of compassionate leave but we never saw hide nor hair of him again.

 

[vespasia]

I would imagine those who provide spiritual oversight will provide support- there may be a need to look at parish bounderies if a parish become redundant as some inner city parishes have due to social-economic changes.

Many redundant catholic churches were built in slum areas that have since been cleared and the land has been reused for none residential purposes.

People move outwards from the inner cities if they can in the UK. I would guess someone in each diocese has responsibility to ensure that shepherds are sent where the sheep move to.

 

[ebia]

wondering if the op is going to come back and explain the question...

 

[higgs2]

I wonder if he means a priestwho actually runs out the door in the middle of the Eucharist?

Or a priest who loses so many parisioners that he is finally down to zero. Like running out of milk kind of.

 

[higgs2]

oh good lord,I can't stop laughing about the priest running out of the church, vestments flapping away, horrified, shocked expressions on the people's faces. And after he was gone what would the congregation do? Sit there in disbelief? Carry on with morning prayer? Start coffee hour early? Or maybe just wander around the church aimlessly for a while, talking in small groups and shaking their heads (one guy would be saying "I always knew something was amiss with Fr. So and So!) and then finally drift out to their cars and go home?

hahahahaha It has to be wrong that I am laughing so hard about this!

 

[Naomi4Christ]

I think he will probably call the rural dean to let him know that services need to be covered (unless there are other clergy in church), then he will go on holiday for a bit.

After that, I am sure there is a pastoral care for stressed clergy provided by the diocese, a type of rehab. The bishop or delegate will then discern whether there is a future and the right kind of church (maybe a house for service place).

 

[higgs2]

I think he will probably call the rural dean to let him know that services need to be covered (unless there are other clergy in church), then he will go on holiday for a bit.

After that, I am sure there is a pastoral care for stressed clergy provided by the diocese, a type of rehab. The bishop or delegate will then discern whether there is a future and the right kind of church (maybe a house for service place).

So is this for the Priest who ran out of church or the one who lost all the people?

I'm sorry I know either situation could be very serious but I can't stop laughing.

 

[higgs2]

I wish the OP would come back. I'm now worried about this priest.

 

[Anhelyna]

I think if you read his post about the Anglican Mass on Jan 4 when there was the Priest and a congregation of 2 - CatholicAtHeart and one other, he means that the priest is there , but there is no congregation attending

 

[LiturgyInDMinor]

There is a Mass in the Old Catholic and in the Roman Rite actually that is called "Mass for a priest without a Congregation". Not sure about whether Anglicans have this or not.

 

[higgs2]

I think if you read his post about the Anglican Mass on Jan 4 when there was the Priest and a congregation of 2 - CatholicAtHeart and one other, he means that the priest is there , but there is no congregation attending

That is sad. But isn't there a shortage of priests?

 

[ebia]

There is a Mass in the Old Catholic and in the Roman Rite actually that is called "Mass for a priest without a Congregation". Not sure about whether Anglicans have this or not.

A priest can't celebrate communion without a congregation.

 

[ebia]

That is sad. But isn't there a shortage of priests?

Unless the priest is retired the one in question probably looks after several - perhaps many- congregations.

 

[LiturgyInDMinor]

A priest can't celebrate communion without a congregation.

I'm not going to argue this fact.
That is simply not true regarding Mass and according to my Sacramentary....but I'm not Anglican so we may be arguing apples and oranges here.

 

[ebia]

I'm not going to argue this fact.
That is simply not true regarding Mass and according to my Sacramentary....but I'm not Anglican so we may be arguing apples and oranges here.

That's the anglican position, written into our rubrics. I think it is spot on - communion apart from a community is a nonsense.

 

[MKJ]

That's the anglican position, written into our rubrics. I think it is spot on - communion apart from a community is a nonsense.

Is it possible to have a Eucharist service and have all the consecrated elements for use outside the service, to be taken to hospital patients for example?

If there is more than one, does there have to be more than the priest receive?

I don't know that I would say it was a nonsense - what if one was really, really alone, for many years? Would it not be reasonable to want to partake of the Eucharist? I don't think that would be a normal circumstance, or to be encouraged, but I can imagine it without being terribly far-fetched.

 

[ebia]

Is it possible to have a Eucharist service and have all the consecrated elements for use outside the service, to be taken to hospital patients for example?

not by any Anglican rubrics I've seen, nor by the implied understanding, no. Communion should be celebrated by a community. If needs be celebrate the Communion with the first person(s) on the hospital list. The intention of home communion is to extend the community's normal celebration to those who are housebound.

If there is more than one, does there have to be more than the priest receive?

I'm not sure if rubrics and rules tend to specify. I think you could make a case either way.

I don't know that I would say it was a nonsense -
what if one was really, really alone, for many years? Would it not be reasonable to want to partake of the Eucharist? I don't think that would be a normal circumstance, or to be encouraged, but I can imagine it without being terribly far-fetched.

It's a nonsense because Communion is a community action, not magical power belonging to priests. Only when one has lost sight of what priests are and what communion is could one suggest priests can do it on their own. When you do that you've reduced the church from the whole laity to just the clergy.

The desert island argument can't be used in any church that doesn't allow the Eucharist to a community that lacks a priest without completely excluding the laity from the church.