Sometime ago this column reported on the initiative of an organization in Philadelphia called ‘Shepherding the Shepherds.’ The following update reports on the encouraging success of its ‘Thank-A-Priest’ endeavor. It is prompted by an interview with an individual named Mary, a member of an unidentified parish, and is titled: A Parishioner Thanks A Priest Who’s Making A Difference.
– Dana Robinson
“He has made such a connection, it has increased our parish attendance.” While some congregations are struggling with dropping attendance and empty pews, Mary’s parish is growing and thriving under one extraordinary priest. Father Michael Barbarossa is stretched thin. Nevertheless, he is touching hearts and giving sacrificially to make sure no one in any of his five parishes or school goes without the time, attention, and help they need.
Mary’s parish was without a priest for some time. She described how they had gotten used to doing a lot of work themselves for their parish, because of the absence of having their own priest. When Father Michael came, his impact was immediately felt. “He did so many things,” Mary described. “The one thing he did that made the difference was he listened. He had time for us. We had not had that for so long. He was kind and patient.” Mary continued, “He has made such a connection that it has increased our parish attendance.”
But the shortage of Catholic priests affecting the US is a crisis that Mary’s parish was not immune to. Father Michael was assigned to another area to oversee five parishes and a Catholic school. Mary’s parish was one of the five. Similar stories are heard across the nation. With the aging out of many priests and the drastic decline in numbers of men pursuing vocations, the priestly crisis in the US has escalated at an alarming rate. Today’s priests are commonly required to serve multiple congregations, as dioceses’ boundaries are redistributed and some parishes forced to close.
The International Institute for Culture is responding to the crisis of diminishing numbers of priests and vocations jeopardizing the future of Catholic churches in the US. The IIC launched Shepherding Future Shepherds – a non-profit program dedicated to inspiring young men to vocations and mentoring them along the path to priesthood. Shepherding Future Shepherds utilizes a holistic four-pillar approach to the crisis by seeking to Elevate, Educate, Engage, and Embark. Through stories, videos, and digital outreach, the IIC aims to counter negative stereotypes and elevate the truth that priests are inspiring leaders. The IIC offers accessible resources on the priesthood to educate men considering a vocation to understand what the priesthood entails and why it matters.
With engaging social media outreach, quizzes, and personal follow-up, the program meets young men where they are today through digital media formats. During the embark stage, those considering a calling to religious life are supported through mentorship, spiritual formation, and deep sacramental life. Part of the elevate initiative is the media effort known as ThankAPriest.com, an online campaign that counters today’s negative culture by highlighting stories of the many heroic priests changing lives in the world today. Viewers can watch inspiring stories on YouTube, read about them on the site, ThankAPriest.com, and follow on social media.
Lay people are encouraged to share stories of priests who impacted their lives or the lives of someone they know at ThankAPriest.com. Restoring perception of the true dignity and nobility of the priesthood is a key step to reigniting vocations, according to the founders of the Thank-A-Priest movement.
For Father Michael, his expanded territory and responsibilities did not mean neglecting any of his parishioners. Despite the increased workload, “he does not complain,” Mary said. “He has such a connection to people that he is becoming so overwhelmed. People from our parish are having a hard time connecting with anyone else. He has done too good of a job. They are writing letters and he responds. They drive to his new parish just to go to confession.”
Mary shared how Father Michael never tells anyone no. “In all my years as a Catholic, I have never met such a man… He has a great demeanor with people. A smile that melts your heart.” She sums up the sentiments of her parish when she says, “I guess I just want you to know that we appreciate and pray for our priests and try to carry the load whenever we can.” Today’s Catholic priests are indeed carrying an increasingly heavy load, and they do so willingly. Visit ThankAPriest.com for ideas on how to support the priesthood in your parish.
