Save souls by saving yourself
Learn to de-stress and improve your ministry
Photo from Photos.com“All I ever wanted to do was save souls!”
Rev. Richard J. O’Brien, SJ, a linguistics professor, spoke these words as he sat swamped by piles of manuscripts, student papers, and faculty meeting notes in his tiny office at Georgetown University. He spoke partly in jest, but his remark also reflected how his life lived in service differed from the ministry he had imagined as a seminarian.
More and more these days, parish priests find themselves living alone in their rectories, isolated from the communities they serve. These priests, and even some deacons, are assigned to more than one parish, lessening the chances of forming close friendships with those they serve. Those newly ordained, who have known only John Paul II and Benedict XVI as popes, often have a different vision of the role of the clergy than their older colleagues. Where and how do priests and deacons find common ground to get the nourishment they need to minister effectively to increasingly bigger and more diverse communities?
1. Pray
The need for prayer is obvious. Yet, it can be difficult to schedule into a minister’s day. Over and above the daily celebration of Mass and other liturgies, the time spent praying the Liturgy of the Hours is crucial to a priest’s or deacon’s spiritual health.
2. Take days off
Days off are just that. Everyone needs time away from the computer, the telephone, and the doorbell to recharge. In our parish, Wednesday is the day off for the entire pastoral team.
3. Join (or form) support groups
My pastor gathers monthly with a group of priests for an overnight getaway, where spiritual development may be discussed, but “shop talk” is discouraged. (Sharing experience, strength, and hope is not limited to 12-step groups!)
4. Cultivate many friends
Limiting one’s circle of friends to fellow ministers is an occupational hazard. The balance and perspective offered by laypeople, both men and women, is a good lens for the clergy’s vision of the realities of daily life.
5. Broaden horizons
A doctor needs to keep up with his specialty. So does a priest or deacon. Being up-to-date with current trends in theology, literature, music, the arts, and popular culture keeps a minister’s vision fresh— and his curiosity alive.
Ten things you can do to avoid burnout*
1. Stop now! Not tomorrow, not soon
2. Make a list of the items that you do at work that you enjoy
3. Spend a week or two doing only the tasks you enjoy
4. Hand off some of the burdens
5. Compress the periods where you do the things you don’t like
6. Hibernate, sleep, take a serious break
7. Set a realistic schedule
8. Plan ahead
9. Celebrate your accomplishments
10. Have a long-term focus, and avoid focusing on current problems
*Source: “65 things you should do right now to avoid burnout,” from the So You Want to Teach website, soyouwanttoteach.com.
Deborah McCann is a pastoral associate at St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish in New London, Connecticut, and the author of Lift Up Your Hearts: 50 Blessings and Prayers for Parish Meetings and Ministries (Twenty-Third Publications).
