by G. Jeffrey MacDonald The American clergy is suffering from burnout, several new studies show. And part of the problem, as researchers have observed, is that pastors work too much. Many of them need vacations, it’s true. But there’s a more fundamental problem that no amount of rest and relaxation … [Read more...]
What Do I Say To My Priest?
So you've decided that you are actually considering the priesthood or the diaconate. What next? The next step, of course, is to talk to your priest. But what do you say? I'd recommend starting by asking him to lunch or to sit down in a relaxing environment for an hour or so. Tell him, briefly, … [Read more...]
Pastors Courageous
by Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon Originally published in July/August of 2005, this article always has kept a special place in my heart. As a priest of "The Church Militant" I've always felt that clergy must, first and foremost, be men, and men must be courageous. The Necessity of a Military … [Read more...]
Heeding the Call
How do I know when I am called? All the baptized are incorporated into the Church and so called to be holy. The struggle is to determine which call is truly ours amid the many vocations God has for his people. One way to think more carefully about whether or not you are called to the priesthood is … [Read more...]
Why You’re Not Too Old To Become A Priest
Meet Fr. William John Clark. He was ordained a deacon in 2001, and in 2003 at the tender age of 68 years was ordained to the Holy Priesthood. Now you might be tempted to say, "That's crazy! What could he possibly do for the Church at such an advanced age as a deacon, let alone as a … [Read more...]
The Priesthood As Vocation
". . . the priesthood unites all of the callings to which man may respond and cannot be thought of as just one of them. " INTRODUCTION Since it is the divine grace that elevates a man, through the laying-on-of hands, to be a priest, it is clear that the priesthood is unlike any other vocation … [Read more...]
Why I Wish I Were A Priest
By Andrew McDermott Learning that a shortage of priests is a serious problem threatening the welfare and future of our Orthodox Church undoubtedly has caused considerable concern in many people. With me this alarming news immediately sparked some serious, earnest, but generally ineffective thinking … [Read more...]
