An offer few priests can refuse

One of the greatest challenges facing our bishops right now, and one that will become more problematic in the future, is the shortage of parish priests.

This is particularly so here in Africa, which is the fastest growing Catholic community in the world’a growth that outstrips that of new vocations to the priesthood.

Most under threat are the smaller parishes and those in the back of beyond that in many cases already have to share priests with their larger counterparts and where Communion services by deacons are fast replacing weekday and even Sunday Masses.

The most obvious solution is to ordain more priests. But this is also the most difficult and expensive. There is a move afoot to entice recently widowed Catholic men to enter the priesthood, but here again, this requires the same amount of effort as ordaining new young priests.

So one has to think out of the box on this one. What got me thinking about this challenge was a series of comments made during his homilies by our parish priest in Simon’s Town, Cape Town.

Fr Bram Martijn pointed out quite rightly that, now in his 70s, he is not going be around forever and steps need to be taken to ensure that his parish of Ss Simon & Jude is not left without a priest, particularly for weekend Masses.

Being a former chaplain to the Dutch army and having served with NATO forces on the East German border in Berlin as well as in Iraq during the first Gulf War, Fr Martijn, a full colonel, by the way, is someone who believes in planning ahead with care and precision.

What he came up with was a brilliant idea. The next door parish centre consists of a two storey building, formerly a convent, the entire top floor of which serves as a parish hall and recreation centre.

The warren of little rooms on the ground floor has now been converted into two extremely comfortable self-contained flats with bathrooms, kitchenettes and all the mod cons.

Fr Bram’s idea is to make these flatlets available to Catholic clergy, in South Africa and abroad, who would like to spend a relaxing holiday in the quaint sea-side village of Simon’s Town.

Accommodation will be provided absolutely free of charge, but there is one term and condition that applies: visiting priests will have to say a Mass or two over weekends to earn their keep.

The offer is open to all clergy, not just parish priests. Papal nuncios, archbishops and bishops are all welcome to take up the offer.

This idea is not entirely new. For example, one of the world’s longest established cruise line companies, the 150-year-old Holland America Line, has for many years been offering Catholic priests a free cruise in exchange for saying daily and Sunday Mass.

When my wife and I went on a cruise to Alaska a few years ago, we were extremely privileged to be able to attend Mass every day courtesy of a charming Jesuit priest from Orange County in California.

I have no doubt that if this idea catches on, there must be plenty of smaller rural parishes in South Africa that will be able to offer the same deal to priests wanting an inexpensive holiday.

And let’s face it: our priests need holidays just as much as any lay person does perhaps even more so. Many of them have to run big parishes single-handedly, when not that many years ago there might have been four or five priests sharing the load.

Perhaps it is time to think of incentives for priests.

One thing I think priests can be sure of when they take up this offer is that they will have the option of being largely left alone if they wish. Or, if its company they want, Catholic parishes have world renown for spoiling visiting clergy with dinner invitations, guided tours, golf games and myriad other recreational activities.

If one considers just how much our parish priests give up to be able to serve their communities, it is hardly surprising that youngsters seem reluctant these days to join the priesthood. It is literally and figuratively too much like hard work.

I am going to watch with interest how this initiative by Fr Martjin works out. It is an idea upon which the future of the parish depends utterly and completely.

If this doesn’ t work, the parish has told Fr Martjin that when he finally departs this mortal coil, we will embalm him in a standing position and hook him up to a computer loaded with all his homilies for the past ten years.