Why are faithful priests transferred every 1 to 4 years?

[Michie]

I’m just curious. I’m not talking about troubled priests but good and faithful priests. They can be transferred yearly or every 3 or 4 years. It’s usually done in June or July. Yet there are some that can be there for years. I have been told it can have anything to do with forming attachments to a certain parish, to changing priests to fit administrative needs of the parish. Maybe forming the priest for certain tasks?

Does anyone know why this seems to be the norm in a lot of Catholic parishes?

 

[zippy2006]

A term for a pastor in the US is usually six years, and they are often allowed to serve two terms. If a pastor wants to stay for their entire term they are usually able to do so. If they leave before the full six-year term there is probably something going on, and in this case they would usually give their consent to be removed. Lots of "usually's" here.

Parochial vicars don't really have any rights, and can get pulled out of parishes much more easily.

 

[Michie]

A term for a pastor in the US is usually six years, and they are often allowed to serve two terms. If a pastor wants to stay for their entire term they are usually able to do so. If they leave before the full six-year term there is probably something going on, and in this case they would usually give their consent to be removed. Lots of "usually's" here.

Parochial vicars don't really have any rights, and can get pulled out of parishes much more easily.

Thank you Zippy. I know that my parish has a lot of newly ordained priest enter but they are usually only there for a year. Some return eventually more seasoned priests but in my area, there seems to be a lot of regular transfers.

 

[Paidiske]

I don't know whether it's the case in the Catholic system, Michie, but I know in the Anglican system a priest normally serves a couple of short appointments - somewhere less than two years - straight after ordination, and those are considered training posts, more heavily supervised and so on. Then after that we might take on a longer appointment. Is something like that maybe happening too?

 

[Michie]

I don't know whether it's the case in the Catholic system, Michie, but I know in the Anglican system a priest normally serves a couple of short appointments - somewhere less than two years - straight after ordination, and those are considered training posts, more heavily supervised and so on. Then after that we might take on a longer appointment. Is something like that maybe happening too?

I’m not sure. I’ve gotten all sort of answers but we have a diocesan paper that usually reports the transfers and where they are going next every June or July. I’m sure there are all sorts of reasons but I have never found much about that practice. It kind of shocked me when I first became Catholic.

Is it more for training or formation purposes in the Anglican Church?

 

[Paidiske]

Is it more for training or formation purposes in the Anglican Church?

Very much so. Usually for these short appointments straight after ordination we're not "in charge" but a more senior priest is overseeing our work, even if they might not be physically present in the parish very much.

 

[Michie]

Very much so. Usually for these short appointments straight after ordination we're not "in charge" but a more senior priest is overseeing our work, even if they might not be physically present in the parish very much.

Are senior priests transferred often or is there any sort of time limit one can serve a parish?

 

[zippy2006]

In Catholicism they are just attempting to give the parochial vicars as much diverse experience as possible before they are made pastors, and they tend to be made pastors way too early. The fact that your younger priests don't stay long has everything to do with the priest shortage.

 

[Paidiske]

Are senior priests transferred often or is there any sort of time limit one can serve a parish?

That varies a lot more. Usually we're appointed for an initial three years, then after that both the priest and the parish have the chance to say whether they think the relationship is working. If it is, and the priest stays, we could stay another ten years. My impression is that we have a lot more "say" than Catholic priests; it seems they just get told where to go and when? Whereas we generally get to negotiate at least a bit.

 

[Valletta]

I’m just curious. I’m not talking about troubled priests but good and faithful priests. They can be transferred yearly or every 3 or 4 years. It’s usually done in June or July. Yet there are some that can be there for years. I have been told it can have anything to do with forming attachments to a certain parish, to changing priests to fit administrative needs of the parish. Maybe forming the priest for certain tasks?

Does anyone know why this seems to be the norm in a lot of Catholic parishes?

Today in our Archdiocese they typically assume six year terms for a pastor. That being said, priests are in high demand and special circumstances can create movement, just like a temporary shortage of pilots and crew in the airline industry have a ripple effect. For example, our pastor was pulled and sent to a parish where they had I believe a steeple in bad need of repair, and they needed a priest with the skills to evaluate the situation and decide whether to repair it or replace it and see the job through. So then we had a temp.

 

[Michie]

That varies a lot more. Usually we're appointed for an initial three years, then after that both the priest and the parish have the chance to say whether they think the relationship is working. If it is, and the priest stays, we could stay another ten years. My impression is that we have a lot more "say" than Catholic priests; it seems they just get told where to go and when? Whereas we generally get to negotiate at least a bit.

I’m not sure how it works in Catholicism but it seems to be pretty hush hush even under normal circumstances. That’s my impression anyway.

 

[zippy2006]

I’m not sure how it works in Catholicism but it seems to be pretty hush hush even under normal circumstances. That’s my impression anyway.

This would be an ideal topic to raise in your local Church's participation in the Synod on Synodality.

 

[zippy2006]

Why are faithful priests transferred every 1 to 4 years?

Since you included the word "faithful" in your title, I suppose it's worth pointing out that, the better the parochial vicar, the more quickly he will be moved. In many dioceses if a priest excels in his first year he will be moved and installed as a pastor in his second year. The young priests who are struggling are the ones who are allowed to stay at a parish for longer periods of time, because they are most in need of stability and mentorship.

Mutatis mutandis, the same thing happens with pastors being made bishops. Unfortunately this means that some of the best men burn out because they shoulder the heaviest load.

 

[Lost4words]

In my parish its put to a vote. 12 of us Corgis get to say if he stays or not. It really depends on how many treats we get..

 

[eastcoast_bsc]

In my parish its put to a vote. 12 of us Corgis get to say if he stays or not. It really depends on how many treats we get..

Pipe down ya mutt! ROFL

 

[Michie]

Pipe down ya mutt! ROFL

Lol! I think he is one of the Queen's Corgis. You peasant!

 

[Susie~Q]

I believe that when they take their vows, one of them is they have to go to wherever they are sent without protesting. I am thinking that just maybe it is so they don't get too used to where they are. In other words, depend too much on the parish and congregation for their happiness and security, moving surely keeps your eye on the Lord for all your needs, and security.

 

[Michie]

I believe that when they take their vows, one of them is they have to go to wherever they are sent without protesting. I am thinking that just maybe it is so they don't get too used to where they are. In other words, depend too much on the parish and congregation for their happiness and security, moving surely keeps your eye on the Lord for all your needs, and security.

Yeah it was mentioned to me when I asked at Church there was a concern about attachment.

 

[Martinius]

As Zippy2006 said, the standard term in many dioceses is 6 years. The bishop can extend that or move a priest sooner. Newly ordained priests will often serve for just a couple of years in a parish as an associate before being transferred. In the "old days" when there were plenty of clerics, a priest could be in their forties or fifties before becoming the pastor of a parish. Nowadays it happens much sooner, and a young priest may serve as an associate at just a couple of parishes before being assigned their own parish.

Priests usually go where the bishop sends them, although bishops can take into account the wishes of the particular priest. Parishioners have little say in this process, although I have heard of parishes where the people wanted to either get rid of a priest or asked for the current one to stay longer. Sometimes the bishop will honor that request. In addition to being assigned to parishes, priests can be rotated into other positions, such as teaching at a high school.

In my current diocese, it appears that the bishop assigns newly ordained priests to certain experienced priests. One pastor may get a new assistant every couple of years while other priests get none. Of course, it could also be based on the nature of the parish, and the experiences the new priest will get at any particular assignment.

So, none of this process is up to the parish, but is handled on the diocesan level.

 

[Gnarwhal]

I’m just curious. I’m not talking about troubled priests but good and faithful priests. They can be transferred yearly or every 3 or 4 years. It’s usually done in June or July. Yet there are some that can be there for years. I have been told it can have anything to do with forming attachments to a certain parish, to changing priests to fit administrative needs of the parish. Maybe forming the priest for certain tasks?

Does anyone know why this seems to be the norm in a lot of Catholic parishes?

I was told it was to avoid a cult of personality. Obviously we kind of flock to great priests, but this also creates a predicament that the protestants deal with. If the life of the parish hinges too much on the priest then maybe it's focus is on the wrong thing, instead of the sacraments like it should be.

I've also heard that the term is six years, at least it was in my old diocese. Some say it's a minimum and others a maximum. I've also been told that if a priest remains at a parish after a certain number of a years then he gains the ability to decline a Bishops' transfer request or orders. I don't know if this is true, but my fiancee's old priest on Long Island has been at that parish for a very very long time.

Thank you Zippy. I know that my parish has a lot of newly ordained priest enter but they are usually only there for a year. Some return eventually more seasoned priests but in my area, there seems to be a lot of regular transfers.

I know my parish back home has been through three pastors in the past 4-5 years, to say nothing of how many parochial vicars have passed through. It's probably because the priest shortage is so dire in that diocese, Bishop Soto is probably desperate to cover as many parishes as possible.