Prayer Request

I would like to send out a special prayer request on behalf of some of my family members who live in the Diocese of Belleville, IL. When my husband and I visited there this Easter we were told that some of the Catholic Churches in the diocese (not all) have only one priest (no pastor - who is assigned to two or three parishes) who is called a "Service Minister". From what I have been told this individual's duties consist of saying Mass on Sundays. There is no Mass at all during the week. If someone wishes to be married in the Catholic Church they are told "Find your own priest." They refuse to perform the sacrament of Matrimony. As for Baptisms, new Catholics are told that they must be immersed -- without exception -- and this covers all ages -- babies, children, and adults. This sacrament takes place in front of the entire congregation, so you can imagine how embarassing this must be to those youth and adults who are required to wear a swimsuit and to expose body parts that they would prefer to keep hidden while in church. To me, and, I am sure for others, it seems to violate the virtue of modesty.

The last sacraments have been denied to the dying and when parishioners phone the priest to request Extreme Unction for their loved ones they are given excuses such as, "I visited them last week".

Parishioners are told by the priests there that their Bishop does not return their phone calls and has no contact with them.

This makes me very sad because this area has remained a strong Catholic community despite the fact that there have been several cases of clergy sexual abuse there. The parishioners are told that the reason for the lack of "services" is due to the priest shortage.

Please pray for priestly vocations and for a resolution to the priest shortage and the problems that are occuring in the diocese of Belleville, IL.

Things are very different for us here in Kansas, as in our parish and diocese we have very dedicated, hardworking priests faithful to the Magesterium of the Church who go out of their way to minister to the parishioners and we aren't seeing a shortage of priests here.

Comments

  1. Oh, Jean,

    My heart goes out to your family. How horrible to live in a parish where you can't even receive the sacraments from a priest!

    Have they tried to contact the Bishop or the Archbishop or anyone else in a position of authority about these bizare happenings?

    I don't suppose they have Eucharistic Adoration in their diocese, do they?

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  2. They need not only to pray but to contact their archbishop about these abuses. I don't know if he will do anything, but if he doesn't I would try to awitch parishes.

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  3. No, they don't have Eucharistic Adoration in their diocese.

    The "Service Ministers" have implied that it is useless to contact the Bishop as he is much too busy to listen to them.

    It's hard to switch parishes when you have been there all your life and have seen a variety of priests come and go.

    Thanks for your comments, Cathy & John.

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  4. Hi,I just saw your post. The lack of priests is a serious problem, particularly in rural towns. Yes, some parishes within a county, for example share one priest.

    The bishop, installed in May (or JUN?) 05, is fully aware and is holding the first Vocations Day event May 6. Please pray for the young (or old!) men who hear a calling and attend.

    THere is eucharistic adoration in the diocese. I do not of which parish the blogger is writing, but it is true that not all parishes have adoration. StTeresa's in Bville has perpetual adoration, for example.

    My blog, SOILCatholics.blogspot.com may be of interest to you.

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  5. My My...
    I've lived in this Diocese (not any longer) but have to clarify some things.

    Immersion baptisms are the preferred method of baptism in the Church... if you are going to do a symbol - do it well! However I do not want to get into THAT discussion. When an adult is baptised by immersion, they wear an alb - or some covering that is from head to toe! As are babies when they are baptised.

    There is a SERIOUS problem with communication in the Diocese. There are concerns on both "sides" but most people are working together in the spirit of dialogue.

    I seriously doubt any priest would deny the sacrament of last rights to anyone. BUT - how can one priest that has to travel to the four corners of the county possible meet every need?

    What in the world does Adoration have to do with this discussion?
    That isn't a piety that people here were raised with. Novenas, maybe. The Rosary, sure. Attending Mass is (to beat a dead horse) the 'source and summit' 'font and apex' and where the heart of most Catholics in Southern Illinois lies...

    I did not see any discussion of lay ecclesial ministers. Couldn't that possibly be an answer instead of instantly praying for vocations to the priesthood?

    The priests, and the rest of us, in Belleville are faithful to the Magisterium... What do you mean by that?

    Grace

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  6. Dear Grace,

    Thank you for your comments. Your thoughts confirm some of what I have been told -- that there are serious communication problems in the diocese.

    The lack of priests is a major concern -- not the lack of lay ministers. Only priests can celebrate the Mass. Only priests can hear Confessions. Without the priests there to change the bread and wine into Christ's body and blood the people are without the spiritual sustenance and basic nourishment they require.

    Eucharistic Adoration is an essential part of one's spiritual life and should be an integral part of worship in every diocese. This diocese in particular would benefit from the spiritual benefits which can are reaped from time spent in Adoration.

    I know that there are some strong, fervent Catholics in the Diocese, but there are also some who have left the Church due to the abuse, the lack of priests to administer the sacraments and minister to the people etc. It hurts me see this happen to a Catholic diocese, particularly one where family resides. This is very painful to me as it hurts them immensely.

    I believe that the resolution to the problem is prayer -- preferably in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament during Eucharistic Adoration.

    I have been told by credible sources that there are many abuses currently going on there that are not consistent with or approved by the magesterium of the Catholic Church.

    A lack of priests is no excuse for a priest refusing the sacraments to the people.

    I suggest that you join me in prayer for this diocese which seems to be suffering so much.

    God bless you,
    Jean

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  7. Thanks for your comment, Peggy.

    Please see my comment on your blog.

    God bless you,
    Jean

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  8. Jean,

    Thanks for commenting at my place. I was surprised to learn that immersion baptism was REQUIRED. Maybe one particular priest thinks so. I do not at all agree with Grace that that is the preferred method of the Church, ie, coming from Rome. If it were, I think my current parish, which is quite according to hoyle about liturgy, would be doing it. We don't have baptisms within mass, but on Sunday afternoons in a separate baptismal ceremony. I think immersion is some other post-V2 modernism, which, while it may be permitted, may not be what the Church really prefers. Eg, it's okay to receive our Lord in our hands, but reception on the tongue is preferred.

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  9. I'm not so sure adoration is essential. Lauable, praiseworthy, inestimable value, etc. but not essential. Only mass is essential, and other sacraments.

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