By Sister Oenevieve Sache, OSB

As we came together for our first meeting, many of the newly appointed members of the Archdiocesan Vocation Commission most probably shared my apprehension about this fledgling organization. Would it just be another paper committee or will it become a catalyst within the archdiocese for a broader spectrum of interest in Church ministry?

Certainly the spectrum of the group is broad and conglomerate, ranging from Archbishop Donnellan and the clergy, parents, Serra Club, college students, even to an assortment of sisters from various communities and apostolates. It is from this broad base that we hope to glean a much broader perspective of the problems of the ministry and the attitudes of the People of God who respond to and develop from that ministry.

In the discussion period, three questions were asked: What are the five most important qualities you look for in a person working in church ministry? What are the three most important issues that Church ministers will have to face in the Church of the future? What do you see as the three major causes for the decline in Church vocations?

In discussion the first questions there was one point which surfaced in each group – the spiritual life of the priest himself. Without a deep basis in his own faith and love or to teach prayer and reflection is likely to remain sterile. Most of the groups were far more concerned about the minister’s ability and eagerness to relate to people and their needs than the ability of business administration whether the ministry be parochial, medicinal or educational.

Others spoke of the gifts of ministry, the ability to share the richness of a faith experience or the ability to inspire, whether in the spiritual life or in the celebration of the liturgy.

Regarding the problems to which future ministers will need to direct their attention to the disadvantaged. Along with that question was the parallel consideration of being able to blend religious, political, and social issues to help build a truly Christian society.

Changes in the Church which have resulted in a decrease in the number of ministers, in a lowered Church attendance, in dissent over celibacy or morality or the role of women in the ministry, were also seen to be fuel for the future fires of difficulty in the Church. Financial problems and general apathy among both ministers and people were also cited.

In discussing the reasons which they believed to be the causes for the decline in vocations to Church ministry, they covered a diversity of possibilities, yet several general areas surfaced.

First, the changes in religious culture, which encompass poor parental attitudes, the decline of parochial schools and the greater contact with religious and clergy, the fear of the loss of “the good life” as well as the changing concept of ministry which no longer presents a clear and unified picture of the priest or religious, and the prolongation of adolescence and the fear of total commitment.

Secondly, multiple insecurities were mentioned – uncertainty about the future of the priesthood and religious communities, the instability caused by the changes in the Church, the instability of societal values and moral codes as understood by the youth of today.

Third, the lack of encouragement from those in ministry, both through their verbal approach, but for more importantly through the witness of their life-styles.

It was appropriate and timely that the CARA Seminary Report had just been published in the BULLETIN and was available to the group. The seminary report lays most of the root of the vocation crisis at the door or those in ministry themselves. That fact is an awesome challenge to those of us in ministry.