Wilmington Diocese begins study of future of priests' ministry

Published: 2006-02-15

WILMINGTON, Del. (CNS) -- Faced with a declining number of priests and growing number of Catholics in the Diocese of Wilmington, a committee of priests will begin a yearlong study of the future of priestly ministry in Delaware and on Maryland's Eastern Shore. According to the diocese, the 10-member group, formed at a meeting of all diocesan priests in January, will define the role of the diocesan priest (create a job description, as one member put it); find ways that parishes located near one another might coordinate ministries; examine the distribution of priests and deacons in the diocese; seek ways to renew "priestly fraternity"; look at how to communicate more effectively; and find ways to promote priestly role models to encourage vocations. The committee expects to provide a report to diocesan priests at a special meeting in October and present its final recommendations to Wilmington Bishop Michael A. Saltarelli. Once approved, those recommendations are expected to be announced at the next annual clergy meeting in January 2007, marking the end of the committee's work.

Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .