Catholic Trends
May Catholic Trends

New Ulm - Bishop Raymond A. Lucker has mandated the attendance of all diocesan priests and pastoral administrators at an emergency meeting to address a critical shortfall of priests available to serve parishes for the upcoming year.

Pastoral appointments are routinely determined and implemented annually during the months of June and July. This year members of the Priests’ Personnel Board, who recommend priests’ appointments to the bishop, were faced with five fewer priests available to serve in active ministry in diocesan parishes.

Bishop Lucker has called the emergency meeting to discuss the present situation and consider options for immediate clustering of some parishes in order to alleviate the present deficit of ordained ministers.

This action is not typical of the bishop who is known for his commitment to consultation and long range planning.

The meeting will take place May 9 during the annual Presbytery Day. A process facilitator, Father Jack Gilbert, former Superintendent of St. Paul Catholic schools with expertise in strategic planning, will assist in guiding this important dialogue.

In the letter to pastoral leaders, Bishop explains that this is a time for action not advice. "We need clear guidelines to help the Priest Personnel Board make some difficult decisions on how to distribute the priests of the diocese in clusters and parishes given the number of pastoral leaders available."

Father Dennis Labat, director of the Priests’ Personnel Board, has prepared 19 options for consideration during the meeting.

Father Labat is encouraging a dialogue that will provide a direction that could be implemented, yet leaving room for possible adjustments made by the Committee on Parishes after the next phase of diocesan long range planning which is expected to begin late this summer.