What Your Priest Wants You to Know

Thanks to Father Daren for sharing the following which he got from another priest on Facebook. Fr. Daren has added his own comments. With regard to #5, my son once remarked that when he is a priest (he must have been 12 or so at the time he said this) he will not be presiding at any weddings or funerals...even confessions were a maybe.

1. The absolute worst time to tell us anything important is in the receiving line after Mass. Don't expect us to remember... [He's right, you know]

2. We are very flattered that people think of us when they go to Mass on their vacation, but we don't collect bulletins from other parishes.

3. We don't have anyone cook for us. Most of us tend for ourselves [and most of us don't mind this].

4. We aren't offended when people swear in front of us. "I'm sorry, Father," isn't necessary [or if it is, it ought to be necessary in front of anyone].

5. Celebrating all the sacraments is a joy but, given a chance, 9 out of 10 priests would rather do a funeral than a wedding [there's a lot less paperwork involved].

6. We go to confession to other priests, usually outside of the Diocese or to a spiritual director. We can't go to ourselves.

7. We have one weekday that is our day off. The most popular day off is Monday [I prefer Friday because the parish does not have a Saturday morning Mass]. Obviously, we're busy on weekends.

8. We don't sleep in clerical garb [and we often wear "normal people clothes" around the house]. Nor do we bathe in holy water.

9. Words of support and encouragement are much appreciated. So is honest feedback. "I didn't understand your homily" would be a most welcome critique [along with an idea of where we lost you, otherwise the critique isn't of much use].

10. We like other people saying a meal prayer from time to time.

11. We don't remember most of everything that's said in the confessional because we hear so many [and we don't want to remember]. They all sort of run together...