Citing manpower problems, the California Province of Society of Jesus has begun to withdraw priests in four western states. Two Jesuit priests serving at St. Mary's parish in Ogden, Utah, have been told to pack their bags and leave their Utah parish on Aug. 3, California Catholic reports.
In addition, the California Province of the Jesuits has informed Stockton Bishop Stephen Blair that the society will no longer provide a priest to pastor St. Joseph's parish in Mammoth Lakes, which serves all of Mono County.
"In a recent letter to major superiors, Father General raises the following concern about the quality of apostolic discernment: The fact that, while the number of Jesuits has greatly diminished, the number of apostolic works under our care has not, or has even increased, raises questions about the quality of our discernment. The most difficult thing for an apostle is to give up a good work.
"However the essence of discernment is precisely to choose among good options and to be able to leave with peace and humility that which is no longer God's will for us.
"In this spirit, after prayerful discernment and consultation, I have made the following decisions regarding our parish commitments in Utah and in Mammoth Lakes, California," wrote California provincial John P. McGarry, S.J., in a Feb. 1 letter to fellow Jesuits in the California Province.
The California Province of the Society of Jesus includes California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to us or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that we agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
SIC: CTHUS