Guide to Ongoing Formation for Priests (Ascension)

GOFP 101

Chapter 2: Ongoing Formation

in these years; efforts should include regular physicals and proper medical care. Ongoing formation helps priests anticipate, manage, and gracefully cope with these natural changes. Senior and “Retired” Clergy 100 A stage of life that is sometimes overlooked in discussions of ongoing formation is that of senior clergy. The transition into an older age group, often away from formal administrative duties, is a life change as serious as any other. 101 Some senior priests continue to live in a rectory or other forms of common priestly life; others choose to live on their own. Many priests eventually need to move into an assisted living facility. Priests, however, do not retire, even when required to resign their office due to age. 73 Their new status simply means a change in their pastoral ministry. In their daily Mass and prayer, for which they have perhaps more opportunity and leisure, senior priests can do immeasurable good for the Church at large and for their fellow priests still in the field. They have an opportunity “to deepen the contemplative sense of the priestly life, rediscover and savor the doctrinal treasures of what they have already studied, and feel they are useful, as they rightly are, insofar as being of utmost value in suitable forms of true and proper ministry, especially as expert confessors and spiritual directors.” 74 Senior priests with flexibility in their schedules provide valuable service to local, regional, or even national Catholic organizations. Their experience and wisdom are a treasure of profound worth to their younger brothers, and every diocese would do well to tap into that source of spiritual wealth. 75

73 74

See CIC, c. 538 §3. DMLP, no. 113.

75 “In particular, they [senior priests] will be able to share with others their own experiences, provide encouragement, receptiveness, listening and serenity to their confreres, and be available if they are summoned ‘to become effective teachers and trainers of other priests’ (PDV, no. 77).” DMLP, no. 113.

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