Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word happy would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness. It is far better to take things as they come along with patience and equanimity.
Carl Jung
Right now my parish is indeed going through a measure of darkness as we adjust to a new pastor. Last night the new pastor met with four of our twelve parish's catechetical teachers, me being one of them. The other eight were smart not to attend. As a child with one foot in pre-Vatican II and another in post-Vatican II, I was raised to respect priests and revere them as men following a higher calling. Even though I know that each priest is first a man, and therefore susceptible to the same human foibles as the rest of us, I was amazed at how much disrespect this particular priest felt he could place on the laity, especially females, which all four catechists were last evening. It seemed as though he was not listening to our concerns and questioned us and the past practices under our former pastor as if we were all doing things terribly wrong. His manner was abrupt, his thinking was disorganized, and his criticisms were personal and hurtful. So, what do I do? It was my intention to go last night as support for the woman who will be the new Director of Religious Education. I also told this new pastor that it was not my intention to teach this school year as I was in transition from full time employment to retirement in order to refocus my life on family and avocational interests. He told me I might as well go stand in the road and let myself get run over by a car as retiring so young is suicidal anyway. This from a priest!!! Am I just not getting his style of interaction? Did he want to ask me to stay on as a catechist but go about it in a completely discourteous way? I am feeling very confused right now and entering into a measure of darkness. I pray for patience and insight to follow what God wants me to do.
Wednesday's Child
Wednesday's Child
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