An Atlanta priest has been selected to assist in writing a Directory of the Pastoral Ministry of Priests in the United States.

Father Michael A. Morris, Pastor of Sacred Heart parish in Atlanta is one of nine priests named to the national committee. The group is made up of seven diocesan priests and two members of religious orders. It includes priests involved in both parish and special ministry.

The proposed document is being prepared by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops' (NCCB) Committee on Priestly Life and Ministry. Bishop Thomas J. Grady of Orlando, Fla., chairs the NCCB committee.

Announcing the formation of a special writing committee for the project, Bishop Grady said he has "utmost confidence in the combination of talents of these priests selected, and in their ability to prepare a document which will be of great assistance" to the American clergy.

The bishop outlined four main objectives of the committee: 1) to sketch the Scriptural and theological picture of the ordained priest in light of the Second Vatican Council's writings and subsequent documents; 2) to present a descriptive analysis of the lived experience of ordained priests in the Church in the U.S. today; 3) to offer priests an overview of the expectations of the Church in the U.S. and to provide them with a document which would assist in self-evaluation; 4) to offer bishops a basis for discussion with priests concerning what is expected of them pastorally.

Bishop Grady noted that the directory project has resulted from expressions of need for such a document resulting from widespread consultation with priests and bishops.

Father Morris expressed similar feelings: "It is now more than ten years after the Council and the external life of the Church is quite different from what it was before the Council. The changes in the Church have presented not only challenges to the priest of the Church, but also rather severe problems in the life of the priest -- especially as he sees his role and as others see the priestly role."

"Stress and strain in bishop-priest and priest-layperson relationships have taken their toll. Also, priests see their role in different ways. This diversity has not always been healthy for the priest. He frequently sees himself middled; that is, in the middle of differing expectations," Father Morris explained.

"I think almost every Catholic in touch with the life of the Church sees or senses a need for such a document," he added.

Father Morris, 37, was ordained for the Archdiocese of Atlanta in 1964. He is pastor of Sacred Heart parish and has served as archdiocesan director of religious education.

He is the former executive secretary of the Georgia Catholic Conference.

The other members of the committee are: Oblate Father Donald Bargen, 36, ordained in 1964. He is director of the Social Action-Social Welfare Department of the Minnesota Catholic Conference and a member of the provincial council of the Oblates of Mary central province. Father Bargen is a member of the priest-advisor's committee to the NCCB Committee on Priestly Life and Ministry. He has been a member of the priests' senate of the St. Paul-Minneapolis archdiocese, and chaired the National Catholic Coalition for Responsible Investment. He is currently a priest representative to the St. Paul-Minneapolis Archdiocesan Pastoral Council.

Father John Fagan, 48, ordained in 1952 for the Diocese of Brooklyn. He is executive vice-president of Little Flower Children's Services in Wading River, N.Y.; a member of the Brooklyn diocesan priest senate, and secretary of the Priests' Councils of the State of New York. He is a former member of the Ad Hoc Committee on Priestly Life and Ministry of NCCB.

Sulpician Father Albert Giaquinto, 51, a member of the Society of St. Sulpice, ordained in 1948. He is spiritual counselor at the Theological College in Washington, D.C., and is a former rector of St. Patrick's College in Mountain View, Calif. Father Giaquinto has held a variety of pastoral assignments, and currently serves in parish ministry at St. Ignatius', Washington, D.C.

Father Vincent Mainelli, 40, ordained in 1963 for the Archdiocese of Omaha, Neb. He is associate director of the National Conference of Catholic Charities. He formerly held the post of executive director of the United Catholic Social Services in the Omaha archdiocese, and served as president of the Archdiocesan Senate of Priests and chairman of the Priests' Councils of the Province of Omaha.

Father John Markham, 47, of the Archdiocese of Detroit, ordained in 1954. He has served in parishes since ordination, with experience extending from rural and suburban to core-city parishes. He is currently pastor at St. Elizabeth's parish in Detroit. He has conducted retreats, including those for priests.

Father Reid May, 37, ordained in 1963 for the Diocese of Burlington, Vt. He is president of the National Federation of Priests' Councils, and a priest-advisor to the NCCB Committee on Priestly Life and Ministry. He has served as a director of religious education, as associate pastor, and three times as president of the Burlington diocesan senate of priests.

Monsignor Francis A. Quinn, 54, of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, ordained in 1946. He is pastor of St. Gabriel's parish in the city and archdiocesan coordinator for the bicentennial celebration. Msgr. Quinn has served as editor of the archdiocesan paper, The Monitor, and is a former priests' senate president.

Father Royale Vadakin, 37, ordained in 1964 for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He is associate pastor of St. Anthony's parish in South St. Gabriel, Calif., and is president of the Interreligious Council of Southern California. He is a former president of the Los Angeles Priests' Senate, and also chaired the Priests' Councils of Region XI.

The proposed directory is expected to go through at least two main drafts before final publication. The first draft will be submitted to a wide range of individuals and organizations with particular expertise in various aspects of the ordained ministry. The review of the second draft will be conducted primarily by the Bishops' Committee on Priestly Life and Ministry members themselves and their Committee on Priest-Advisors.

"As I understand the process, the committee will be able to take as much time as is needed to achieve a good document and the final directory will be the result of the widest possible consultation on the part of the committee. I would not be at all surprised to see us take a year and a half before the work is done," Father Morris explained.