Two priests chosen to minister to their peers

By PAUL QUIRINI- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

Priests across the Albany Diocese will be seeing more of Revs. Frank Gilchrist and George Brucker, who have accepted the part-time positions of ministers to priests as part of an ongoing process to improve communication and counsel to clergy.

The two priests plan to visit each priest in the Diocese at least once during their three-year terms, but they will be available to talk or listen whenever priests find themselves in need of support.

"Many of the priests are by themselves, and there's a need for more communication," Father Gilchrist said. "If there's anything priests are concerned about, they can come to us."

Reaching out

"As in all different vocations in life, there's a lot of tension, fear, struggle and disappointment" in the priesthood, Father Brucker said. "I see this as an opportunity to reach out to my brother priests on behalf of the Bishop and Diocese as a communication and healing vehicle."

Having ministers to priests will facilitate "internal, personal, private exchange of information with someone who knows the experience of being a priest," Father Brucker noted.

Father Gilchrist feels comfortable ministering to priests, and they should know they can come to him "in times of crisis, whether personal, spiritual or psychological," he said.

One issue that Father Gilchrist expects to come up is burnout, as the number of priests in the Diocese dwindles. "Priests are feeling overworked, and they can't do everything," he said.

Priority

Rev. Ed Deimeke, administrative advocate for priests in the Diocese, is glad to have Father Gilchrist and Father Brucker as part-time ministers to priests.

"I think this is the first time there have been these kinds of people in the Diocese who are there specifically for the priests," he said.

The two ministers to priests have busy schedules, but Father Deimeke is confident that they will handle their new part-time ministry just fine. "Somehow, I think this will be a priority in their lives," he said.

(Father Gilchrist can be reached at 463-4817; Father Brucker can be reached at 377-8886.)

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