Transfers & Reassignments

It’s that time of year again; I imagine that this coming week in the Review we will see news of the transfers and reassignment for different priest in the Archdiocese. Some guys know early on who is going where and speculate as to why. I’ve never really cared for the “wash-woman” network and unplugged from it early in my priesthood. My thoughts are fairly simple, I hope the priest is happy with his new assignment and I hope the new assignment is happy with him. As I mentioned Saturday evening, I am not in this round of transfers. I took the time to write a letter to the Personnel Board and explained a number of things going on in the parish that I would like to tend to before being put in the mix. I know that such a letter is at best a suggestion. Having been on the board for five years prior to my assignment to Epiphany I do remember how it works. The Personnel Board does its best to make a good fit with assignments, and most pastors can expect to be somewhere at least six years and sometime as much as twelve. Emergencies of course can change anything, both the Personnel Board and the Archbishop look towards the good of the Archdiocese and on rare occasions a priest can be reassigned within the course of a week if the need necessitates it. I know of only one time that has occurred since I have been ordained. For the most part, assignments usually occur around the time of ordinations to the priesthood, new men are assigned to parishes, some retire, others get moved for different reasons. Please pray for those men who are being reassigned, for any communities that are mourning their transfer, and for the new men being assigned. Few things are more difficult in priesthood that moving on from an assignment you love.


Why then do they do it that way? There are a number of reasons, with the main one being the good of the Archdiocese. In the seminary we would joke about being exiled to the country if you messed up something on an assignment. The Archdiocese would minimize the potential damage Fr. Dudley Doright could do. I don’ think that is true, but it is not always easy to find a “good fit” for a particular priest. Our priests are like any of us, some are incredibly talented, some are moderately blessed, and others are good men with just a few gifts. My prayer for any of the brothers is that they love their assignment and that the find the support they need to continue giving their best to their assignment. While most serve parishes, priests are also involved in education, special ministry, mission work in Bolivia or Archdiocesan administration. I pray also that their humanness, which none of us are without, does not become an obstacle in others coming to Jesus Christ. I firmly believe that part of the methodology of parish assignments is to help members of the laity encounter at least one priest (if not more) in their lifetime who draws them closer to Jesus, who encourages them to embrace their faith, or supports them in the midst of life’s demands. I hope that those who don’t connect with a particular priest at least pray for him. It is easy to criticize, we are public figures, and our constant presence in front of the community can make us subject to all kinds of comments. That constant presence in front of the community also exposes many of our foibles, ticks, and personality traits no matter how much we try to manage them through self-awareness. I am sure there are things I do at Mass that individuals notice in my behavior or in my words that have become part of the Fr. Tom ensemble. Well I’ve rambled enough; pray for all those effected by this recent round of assignments.