The Priest Shortage And How It Affects Parish Life

This year, the Archdiocese faced a very uncomfortable shortage of priests to staff our various parishes. For example, Ponca City had long had two priests in service there, but now only one. The entire panhandle of Oklahoma is currently being served by just two priests. Here, at St. Eugene, we had three priests, but now we have two. And, we share our Associate, Fr. Krug, with Mt. St. Mary High School. 

I appreciate those families who volunteer to take the Vocare Chalice home for a week and pray for vocations. Fr. Krug and I hope to indentify and mentor young men who exhibit the necessary signs of a vocation to the priesthood. If you know a young man who would make a good priest, encourage him to speak with me or Fr. Krug. 

If you have wondered why I have changed the number of Masses celebrated during the week, it’s because we have to be realistic about what Fr. Krug and I can actually do prayerfully and well. Saturdays especially had become very busy days, with weddings, Quinces, a Men’s Mass, 1.5 hours of confessions, and the evening Vigil Mass. This dizzying number of Masses made sense when there were three priests, but with only two, that schedule is unsustainable. 

On another note, I moved the Monday Mass from early morning to evening because we have an unusual schedule here of two Sunday evening Masses. I will take Mondays off, and I am not so cruel as to make my Associate arise at 5 am on Monday mornings after working well into Sunday evening. We will offer a second confession time, but it can’t be on Wednesday mornings, as has been the schedule here. I take appointments on Wednesday mornings and Fr. Krug will be at the Mount on Wednesday mornings. 

Please be patient and give me time to discern a good time for confessions during the week. In the meantime, if you need to go to confession and can’t make it on a Saturday, phone the office and make an appointment with either me or Fr. Krug. May God bless you and yours this week.

Fr. Jim Goins