10 Comments
User's avatar
Joe Witkowski's avatar

Looks like a prime target for replacement by AI. Hopefully no HR sycophants for the diocese are involved. Corporate lunacy to pick shepherds expected to lead their flock to heaven 🤷‍♂️

Fr. Zach's avatar

The “traditional Polish model” is not unique to Poland.

SPM's avatar

Agree. The application model would seem to require a certain minimum number of priests and parishes. Being in a small diocese, with only a couple parishes coming open each year, it would likely not work.

Of course, the advantage of being in a small diocese is that the Bishop and the personnel committee really know each of us. He doesn't need an application or a resume. We simple indicate our view of our current assignment:

"I'm not moving!"

"I'm fine. Whatever you need."

"Get me out of here!"

Fr. Zach's avatar

Yes, in a very large diocese some kind of formal interview/application process seems necessary. In small to medium sized places, it might be helpful to know what, if any, vacancies there are so the bishop can discern with his priests what assignment would be best.

ALT's avatar

I was wondering how much of this was related to bishops not knowing their priests very well.

Fr David's avatar

In my Midwestern Diocese we traditionally had to apply and interview with the priest personnel board. As the number of available priests who are not yet pastors decreases direct appointments are. Evoking more and more likely.

Kurt's avatar

Doesn't seem to have much of a role for the lay faithful.

Bryan Ng's avatar

Unless you are from certain bits of Europe where concordats are in effect, there is normally minimal role for lay faithful in the usual process. This is to be expected and fine.

Kurt's avatar

Right, because they have done such a stellar job protecting our children. Why would the laity care who is bishop with that track record?

Jane Meyerhofer's avatar

"when a parish vacancy arises" This is oddly passive phrasing within the context of pastors who move every six to twelve years and retire when they are 75. It also doesn't quite fit the model of bundling parishes together and assigning them all to one pastor. So the context must be very different. How do you have a vacant parish? Are we talking about death?