WelCom June/July 2024
The priests currently working in the Archdiocese of Wellington gathered together for three days in early May to reflect on their life as priests and on what they are being called to do in the Church today. There are 34 priests in the archdiocese working in 22 parishes. Of those priests 26 are diocesan priests and eight belong to Religious Orders.
The clergy gathering in Silverstream was an opportunity for the priests to reflect on what it means to be a synodal church, said Archbishop Paul Martin sm.
‘We are living in changing times and one of the realities is that as we develop in being more synodal as a Church, we need to see what are the roles and ministries that priests are called to do and what are the areas that all the people of God are called to be a part of?
‘This will mean a change in the way that we as priests live out our vocation, and in the way that lay faithful take up the many parts of the life of the Church and the parish. We need to look at our expectations of our priests and of our willingness to participate in the life of the parish. These are significant questions and discussions for us all to have, and we will be doing more of this as an archdiocese in the future.’
Participants at the gathering shared their experiences of being a priest in the archdiocese, the rewards and the challenges. Challenges included the unsettling effects of parish amalgamations on local communities and meeting the needs of a culturally diverse parish community.
They also discussed how priests could support one another more through improved connection, communication and hospitality.
In working towards a more synodal Church, participants identified the need for ongoing formation for laity and priests, a collaborative model of ministry and harnessing the gifts of parishioners for mission. They saw their roles as empowering people, promoting the gifts of all. As parish leaders, priests are preachers of the Good News, builders of community and connectors of the parish to the broader local Church.
With the shortage of priests, workload for priests was identified as an issue. There needs to be greater awareness among parish communities that priests cannot be as readily available as they once were.
Participants identified many signs of vitality in their parishes. Mass attendances are steadily growing post-Covid and weekday Masses are well attended. There is a unity in the diversity of parishioners and an affirmation of different ministries. There are many active groups in Catholic parishes with members committed to living out their faith.
