Pause for planning: 'Pastors' on hold

When "Called to be Church" began in the Albany Diocese last year, diocesan officials decided that no new pastors would be appointed to parishes during the planning process.

Instead, only administrators are being named.

Rev. Ronald Menty, administrative advocate for priests for the Diocese, said that, in terms of responsibilities for leading parishes, there's no distinction between what a pastor or administrator does, so parishioners shouldn't notice any difference.

'In-between time'

The difference, Father Menty said, is that the title "'pastor' implies stability for the priest and parish," that "he's going to settle in," while "'administrator' doesn't carry the same connotation of permanency and stability."

Parishes often get administrators to oversee them in between one pastor's leaving and a new one's being assigned, and "we're in an in-between time" during Called to be Church, Father Menty explained.

The idea not to call any newly assigned priests "pastors" until Called to be Church concludes came as a result of discussion within those planning the process. In a time of pastoral planning, said Father Menty, the focus is on preparing for change.

Planning time

When the current stage of Called to be Church wraps up in 2008, the planning groups now meeting across the Diocese will make their recommendations for the future of parishes to Bishop Howard J. Hubbard.

After he evaluates those recommendations, what's approved for various parishes will start to be implemented. At that time, expected to be early 2009, Father Menty said, new pastors probably won't be assigned all at once, but gradually, "depending on how the process unfolds."

For instance, an administrator might become the pastor of more than one parish.

For now, he said, the message being sent by using the term "administrator" is not that change is guaranteed for any particular parish, but that it can't be ruled out.

"Don't panic, but keep planning," he advised Catholics.

(4/12/07) [[In-content Ad]]