Retired priests are as busy as ever

There was a time when retired priests were like old soldiers who "faded away" as legions of younger clergymen lined up to minister in their places. Many priests retiring these days find just the opposite is true.

In fact, older priests are discovering they're very much in demand across the Albany Diocese -- especially during the busy summer months when pastors traditionally go away on vacations.

The main reason: a shortage of vocations to the priesthood which has markedly depleted the once plentiful reservoir of parish priests.

Ready resource

Some retired priests fill in on a seasonal basis, as in the case of those who winter in the south and summer in the Diocese; others live in rectories and pitch in at their host parishes year-round.

Even when confined to assisted living residences or nursing homes, a number of retired priests continue to serve and minister where they reside, according to Rev. Geoffrey Burke, chancellor for personnel and communication for the Diocese.

One way of looking at it is that a great many of the 73 retired priests in the Diocese "have retired from their administrative duties, but not from their ministries," said Father Burke.

On the go

Among the busiest of the Diocese's retired pastors is Msgr. James Hart, who makes his home at St. James rectory in Albany. When The Evangelist caught up with Msgr. Hart recently, Rev. Dominic Ingemie, pastor, was away on vacation, and the retired priest was juggling some extra responsibilities.

"I'm doing a little bit of the administrative work for Father Ingemie, but the really big decisions will be left for the pastor to make when he returns," explained Msgr. Hart, expressing relief that he is no longer responsible for parish finances.

Msgr. Hart, who was ordained in 1940, retired in 1988. His last full-time assignment entailed 25 years as pastor of St. Teresa of Avila Church in Albany.

Serving still

Asked why he chooses to continue serving year-round in a parish when he could be living the "Life of Riley," Msgr. Hart replied: "I believe that as long as I am in good health, the best way to use my time is to continue serving as a priest in a parish -- visiting the sick, bringing communion to the homebound, saying daily Mass, hearing confessions, officiating at funerals and so forth."

In addition, he is a member of the diocesan Presbyterial Council and the Diocesan Staff Council, and serves as chaplain of the Columbiettes, the Knights of Columbus women's auxiliary.

As much as Msgr. Hart enjoys the time he spends "mixing with the people," he also treasures the extra hours he is able to dedicate to enhancing his prayer life since formally retiring a decade ago.

At ease

"Because I don't have to worry about the administrative end of things, I have substantially more time to devote to my prayer life, to meditation, and to preparation for Mass," said Msgr. Hart. "I find I am also able to use the gift of time to visit those in hospitals and nursing homes. I am not as restricted time-wise as when I was a pastor."

Another benefit of his "semi-retirement" status is being able to savor such simple joys as an afternoon walk, something next-to-impossible to cram into his hectic schedule when he was a pastor.

He also finds "the evenings open up the opportunity to read" and otherwise broaden his horizons in terms of learning more about complex issues facing society and the Church today.

Time to help

Other busy diocesan priests who are formally listed as retired but who prefer to minister and serve in a variety of ways include Rev. Anthony Sidoti, also of St. James in Albany, and Rev. John Mallon of St. Mary's in East Durham.

"What I find is that I have both the time and the inclination to counsel people and also the opportunity to supply for priests who are run ragged, for example, at Saturday afternoon confessions," reflected Father Sidoti, who is 85. "I find myself doing a lot of things I was not able to do when I was a pastor, such as spending more time preparing homilies."

Because he was ordained more than half a century ago, many people think Father Sidoti can deliver a rousing sermon off the cuff. "They assume when you've been doing this as long as I have, that it gets easier. That's absolutely not true," he insisted.

The ever-changing, increasingly complex world in which modern parishioners reside requires that priests do more homework than ever when preparing homilies, he said, adding: "I believe priests starting out today have a much rougher time than I did when I was ordained. We didn't have to deal with divorces, drugs and other problems that are so prevalent today."

Join together

He hopes that continuing to make himself available to do marriage preparation sessions for engaged couples will help produce strong families in the parish for years to come.

"Marriage preparation is one of those areas that I know for certain most priests would like to devote more time to," he explained, "but they just cannot always do as much as they wish they could in terms of the depth of preparation for the sacrament because of the many demands on their time."

For Father Sidoti, one of the nicest things about being freed of administrative duties has been the luxury of uninterrupted time for prayer and reflection.

"Before, when I was a pastor, I was lucky to grab ten minutes on a Saturday afternoon to work on my homily. There were always so many interruptions. Now I am usually able to spend three or four hours preparing my homily -- with few, if any, interruptions. It's wonderful!"

Priest forever

Father Mallon, 82, who officially retired a quarter of a century ago, celebrates daily Mass and hears confessions at St. Mary's in East Durham, a mission of Sacred Heart parish in Cairo where Rev. Jeremiah Nunan is pastor. Ordained in 1940, Father Mallon served at such diverse parishes as St. Ambrose in Latham, St. Joseph's in Schenectady and St. Mary's in Ballston Spa. He was also chaplain at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady.

After his 1972 retirement, "I floated here, there and everywhere before I put down roots in East Durham in 1978," said Father Mallon. "I've been here 19 years now. And with no cook, no secretary and no housekeeper, I have no trouble at all staying busy."

In addition to celebrating Mass at St. Mary's, he also helps out on an occasional basis at the Elka Park mission church in Haines Falls as well as in the Catskills. The octogenarian also officiates at Baptisms, weddings and funerals.

Home for summer

Rev. Paul Bondi, who stepped down last year as pastor of St. Mary's Church in Ballston Spa, is one of several retired diocesan priests who have chosen to trade snowshoes for sandals during the winter months by assisting priests in Florida-based parishes.

From late fall when upstate New York temperatures start to chill until warmer weather returns after Easter, Father Bondi can be found celebrating Mass and hearing confessions at Blessed Trinity Church in St. Petersburg, Florida.

After returning to the Albany Diocese in May, Father Bondi spent a month assisting Rev. James McNerney, pastor of St. Paul the Apostle Church in Troy. That was followed by two weeks helping out Rev. J. Thomas Connery, pastor of the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Glenville. By late June, he had taken up temporary residence at the rectory of St. Ambrose in Latham, where he will continue to assist Rev. Francis J. DuBois, pastor, until around Labor Day. Father Bondi will then return to the rectory of St. Mary's in Ballston Spa, his home during the nearly 30 years he served as pastor.

Trunk life

Because of his many moves he must make over the summer months, Father Bondi keeps most of his belongings inside two overnight bags in the trunk of his car. Renowned for his neatness and efficiency, Father Bondi notes that the arrangement "saves on a lot of unnecessary packing and unpacking. I just take out what I need on a daily basis and leave the rest in the trunk."

A fringe benefit of returning to the Albany Diocese to help out area priests during the busy summer season is that Father Bondi, 76, is able to visit relatives and close friends.

"I am really fortunate because I get to make new acquaintances at the new parishes where I'm helping out as well as renewing friendships from parishes where I once served as pastor."

(09-11-97) [[In-content Ad]]