Priests' advocate aims for right fit

The Albany Diocese's new administrative advocate for priests believes that his job is "not all that different from being a pastor."

Rev. Ronald Menty, who left his pastorate at St. Clare's Church in Colonie to succeed Rev. Edward Deimeke as advocate, has spent his first month in the job attending to the concerns of priests and laity, and meeting with diocesan officials to fill vacancies in parishes.

"It's very much like working in a parish: You need administrative and organizational skills to get things done; you need listening skills to listen to the priests and also to the people in the parishes," Father Menty told The Evangelist.

Job description

Only the second priest to be appointed to the position, which was created in 1999, Father Menty pointed out that the job has evolved from its original goals of matching priests of the Diocese with parish vacancies, and boosting communication between the priests and Bishop Howard J. Hubbard.

For one thing, he said, "we don't have the number of priests we used to." There are approximately 240 diocesan priests in the Albany Diocese, only 145 of whom are in active ministry within the Diocese. (Many retired priests continue to fill in at parishes, as well.)

Father Menty said that a lot of priests are reluctant to leave parishes where they have served for many years, and part of his job is meeting with them about reassignment.

Best fit

The decreasing number of priests means that cooperation between the administrative advocate and the diocesan Office of Pastoral Planning is key, since officials must together gauge the best fit for each parish.

"Just a few years ago, the advocate could simply fill the vacancy," Father Menty remarked. Now, "there's the issue of how this vacancy fits into the big picture: Does [the parish] need a priest? Are there other priests nearby?"

The administrative advocate also meets with the pastoral councils of parishes with vacancies, with representatives of the Diocese's deacons and with committees that fill positions like prison ministry.

Crucial piece

One of Father Menty's most crucial roles is working with the Priestly Life and Ministry Council. It gives input on such issues as priests' pensions, living arrangements for retired priests and continuing education for clergy.

Father Menty hopes to pursue "personal growth and development" for the priests he serves.

Although being administrative advocate is a full-time job, Father Menty has been filling in at Masses in parishes across the Diocese that have vacancies to learn more about the needs there, which helps in making decisions on assigning priests.

Plus and minus

Father Menty considers his work both rewarding and challenging.

"To confront a brother priest on something is never easy," he stated. On the other hand, "it's great when I can meet with a priest and say I've heard what he has to say, or talk with laypeople in parishes, hear their concerns and know we may be able to provide a leader who can respond to their concerns."

Father Menty credits his predecessor, Father Deimeke, with establishing the role he now fills: "He did a great job. Following in his footsteps, I have a sense of what's expected of me -- a sense of what priests expect, what the Bishop expects, and what diocesan offices and [parishes] expect."

(Breakdown of diocesan priests: 115 pastors...10 associate pastors...26 in special ministries...83 retired...6 on leaves of absence.)

(12/8/05) [[In-content Ad]]