{"id":22623,"date":"2013-04-28T08:48:53","date_gmt":"2013-04-28T12:48:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/deaconsbench\/?p=22623"},"modified":"2016-09-30T16:51:51","modified_gmt":"2016-09-30T20:51:51","slug":"indiana-copes-with-priest-shortage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/deaconsbench\/2013\/04\/indiana-copes-with-priest-shortage\/","title":{"rendered":"Indiana copes with priest shortage"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

From the Post-Tribune<\/a> <\/strong>newspaper, which toward the end makes mention of deacons:<\/p>\n

Early in his career, the Rev. Rick Orlinski was one of three priests at Our Lady of Grace in Highland and spent two to three days each week ministering to the sick in their homes.<\/p>\n

Now, there is one priest who serves the church while Orlinski juggles multiple parishes in Hammond \u2014 St. John Bosco and St. Joseph.<\/p>\n

The United States is experiencing a decline in the number of Catholic priests \u2014 as fewer men enter the priesthood \u2014 despite a rise in those identifying as Catholic. The Diocese of Gary has coped with the priest shortage by allowing deacons or lay ministers to give communion to shut-ins.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s more of a question to empower as many people as possible,\u201d Orlinski said. \u201cYou rely on other people to help out.\u201d..<\/p>\n

\u2026Bishop Dale Melczek said the diocese has 11 seminarians with one on track to be ordained in the next year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are of great quality and we have a great deal of hope for the future,\u201d Melczek said.<\/p>\n

Melczek said it is up to each diocese to decide how they will respond to fewer priests. While the Diocese of Lafayette has welcomed more foreign priests, Melczek said Gary\u2019s priests decided to increase the number of deacons and lay ministers within the diocese.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do have fewer priests now than 10 and 20 years ago,\u201d Melczek said. \u201cBut there is more vitality in our parishes than ever before.\u201d<\/p>\n

The number of deacons has increased by a significant margin \u2014 from 42 in 2006 to 63 in 2012. Melczek will ordain eight more deacons in June. In May, almost two dozen lay ministers will graduate.<\/p>\n

Melczek pointed to the deacons and lay ministers \u2014 who must complete at least four years of coursework in theology, spirituality and pastoral formation \u2014 as helping to engage the lay faithful in all the church\u2019s ministries.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat strengthens our members is more opportunities for engagement in the church,\u201d Melczek said. \u201cThanks to the leadership of our priests and those who collaborate we are motivating all of the faithful to use the variety of gifts God has given them through baptism and confirmation to share with others the love and compassion they personally experience.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Read it all.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From the Post-Tribune newspaper, which toward the end makes mention of deacons: Early in his career, the Rev. Rick Orlinski was one of three priests at Our Lady of Grace in Highland and spent two to three days each week ministering to the sick in their homes. Now, there is one priest who serves the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":132,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,42,52],"tags":[11171,11200],"class_list":["post-22623","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-deacons","category-priests","category-vocations","tag-deacons","tag-vocations"],"yoast_head":"\nIndiana copes with priest shortage<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"From the Post-Tribune newspaper, which toward the end makes mention of deacons: Early in his career, the Rev. 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