Dear friends,

According to recent studies… a great number of priests quit each year. They don’t quit because they have a lack of faith in God. They don’t quit because they don’t believe in the calling God has placed on their life. Most don’t even quit because of financial reasons. Priests quit because they are overwhelmed with mental exhaustion.

In my recent retreat in St. Louis, Missouri, in which I joined several other pastors from around the country, this reality came out very clearly as we had the opportunity to share with each other what we are all going through in our ministry. Above all, we had the opportunity to reflect and pray together. It was very refreshing and spiritually enlightening. Allow me to share an article written by an anonymous author that aptly captured some of the sentiments expressed by the pastors on this retreat. Entitled: “Love your Priests,” the article says:

Until you’re a priest, you’ll never fully understand what it is like to carry spiritual burdens for people. Getting up in the middle of the night, praying for your family of faith. Awakened in the middle of the night with someone on your heart. Overwhelmed with concern by a person’s absence or distance.

Your mind is continually occupied with the presentation of the upcoming Sunday message - how to preach it, what to teach on, and how to apply it. Getting critiqued on a continual basis, either on your homily or on your accent. Being told you need to do better or that some areas of the church simply need to be better.
Priests invest their whole life into people, and yet people will turn their backs on their pastor at the first sign of a storm, usually without a conversation.

Priests stand in the middle of disputes.
Priests stand in the middle of gossip.
Priests counsel broken marriages.
Priests comfort those who have suffered loss.
Priests navigate the waters of imperfect people with a desire to see each one thrive in their faith.
They long for spiritual breakthroughs. Your priest craves the very best for you. All of this, while trying to battle their own flesh and grow in their own relationship with God.
Priests see the posts.
Priests hear the whispers.
Priests endure the negativity.
Priests are continually caring for the sheep while fending off the wolves.
Priest pour out and pour out - rarely being poured into.

What keeps a priest going? YOU!
You - the person who is genuinely hungry.
You - the person who worships with passion and freedom.
You - the teenager who is striving to be a follower of Jesus.
You - the single mom who understands the beauty of the hope found in Christ.
You - the one who walks through the door for the first time because you’re in search of peace, hope, and community.

SO…
Pray for your priest. Serve with your priest.
Talk with your priest. Encourage your priest.
They are human. They need you more than you think!

While I share these sentiments, I want you to know how Fr. Paul and I are so grateful and blessed by the gift of you to us. We appreciate all of you and invite you to join us as we all strive to create an environment here in our parish where all those who enter through our doors get to heaven. Please, continue to pray for us!

I love you!

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