The archdiocese’s vicar for clergy talks about the process, challenges and the generosity of our priests.

Every year, the Archdiocese of Seattle’s Priest Personnel Board meets to discuss where the archdiocese’s priests will be assigned as pastors, priest administrators, parochial vicars or parish priests.

In a typical year, only some pastors will reach the end of their appointed terms and move to new parish assignments. This year, however, most pastors are expected to change assignments under the archdiocese’s new model of parish families that are being created July 1, 2024, explained Father Gary Zender, the archdiocese’s vicar for clergy and pastor of St. Louise Parish in Bellevue. This new model is part of the Partners in the Gospel strategic planning initiative.

Pastor assignments will be announced in the spring. With many of us welcoming new pastors and parochial vicars this July, Northwest Catholic sat down with Father Zender to learn about challenges the archdiocese is facing and how pastors are being appointed in light of Partners in the Gospel. (This interview has been condensed and edited.)

Who are the members of the Priest Personnel Board?

The board has nine members: Archbishop Paul D. Etienne; Auxiliary Bishops Eusebio Elizondo and Frank Schuster; Father Gary Lazzeroni, the vicar general; Father Zender, vicar for clergy; Nick Schoen, executive director of the Office of Vicar for Clergy; two priests elected by their brother priests — currently Father Bryan Dolejsi, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Kirkland, and Father Derek Lappe, pastor of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Bremerton; and one priest appointed by the archbishop — currently Father Jim Lee, pastor of St. Michael Parish in Olympia.

What are some local challenges because of the declining number of priests?

We’ve been doing two things — agreeing to have priests serve many years beyond what normally would be the end of their service as pastors, and then on the other end, we’ve been asking young priests too early to take on a parish by themselves.

Quite a number of priests have been happy to continue to serve … well beyond even 70 years old, and they’ve been serving very well. It would be more difficult without them, given the number of parishes we currently have.

A lot of our young priests are very talented, but there’s nothing like experience and observing different pastors and different parishes before taking on your own place. One of the hopes with Partners is that we will have more opportunity for our young priests to experience two parochial vicar assignments. Officially they’re assigned for three years, but very rarely does someone complete that three-year assignment as parochial vicar. It’s usually Year 2 and they’re moved.

Also, we figure we lose about one priest a year — either someone dies unexpectedly or they decide to leave the priesthood, go to another diocese or join a religious order. We’ve had all those things happen.

How has the assignment process changed because of Partners in the Gospel?

In the past, I would send a letter in September asking priests to let us know if they are requesting a move to a different assignment or requesting senior (retired) priest status. This year, besides looking at who is asking for senior priest status, we knew we were going to have to know a lot more about all the priests, especially those who would be considered for pastors.

In late spring 2023, everyone on the Priest Personnel Board started making calls to the priests who could potentially be pastors. We asked questions: how they see themselves, what they think about Partners in the Gospel, what they would need in a priest (or priests) who would be assigned with them, how they feel about living with priests — because some priests have had quite a long time of living alone. Some say, “I just would really love to be in community,” and others say, “You know, I’m really happy.”

Some pastors are saying, “I’d really rather be a parochial vicar than be a pastor with parish families.” Some priests have told us they’re not that interested in being a pastor.

We’ve gone through those conversations twice. As a board, we talked about how the priests respond to those telephone calls, just to get a better sense of where priests are and what they’re thinking and helping us to understand how to approach things a little differently this year.

How are the board meetings different this year?

Rather than a quick prayer to begin the meeting, we’ve taken half an hour before the Blessed Sacrament just to try to listen more deeply, first to the voice of the Lord, but also to each other. I think it’s been very, very helpful.

We also had one meeting where we just talked about how we see this year being different; we’re not just doing business as usual. That was a helpful conversation. We’re very aware that this is a huge moment in our local church.

Is every pastor going to be moved? Why?

Everyone needs to be prepared to move. We’re already seeing that there are some circumstances in which it would not be best to move. Those will probably be more exceptions than the rule.

I have to be prepared to move; I’m expecting that I will probably move. If I were to go the easy route, I would really push and say I’ve been at St. Louise 10 years, there’s a lot of big reasons why I should stay: I know St. Madeleine Sophie (which is in a proposed parish family with St. Louise and where he is priest moderator), it would be easiest for everyone if I would just stay. But I wasn’t ordained for just St. Louise and St. Madeleine Sophie, so I have to consider, “What is God really calling me to do at this time?”

Even some of the priests I spoke with said, “It makes more sense for me to move because, as much as I would try to be open to the other parish, my heart is really with this parish. I would feel that; the people would feel that. It’s better that I start over again.”

It’s always true, and even more so now, that if we know a priest has the gifts that a parish family needs, we need him there. We know his term may not up and there could be reasons for him to stay, but of everyone that’s available for moving, he’s the best guy.

How are the priests feeling about the coming changes?

First, they know that this has to happen. And quite a number have said it should have happened a long time ago. So they understand it. Most are thankful that the archbishop is showing leadership in this area.

Especially for guys who are still within their assigned term, I think a number of them feel like it’s a lot to move and then to begin this new model. For some, it would be more comfortable to stay where they are and work with at least one (familiar) community.

Are there specific requirements to be a pastor?

Being a pastor always requires flexibility because you’re dealing with people. No matter what parish you are in or what the makeup of that parish is, people can be very complicated, and you have to be able to meet people where they are.

Up until now, we would do our best to assign a first-time pastor to a smaller parish and also a parish that doesn’t have a school. We haven’t always done that, and that has not felt good. That’s asking too much of someone who’s been ordained two years, no matter how talented they are.

Obviously being the pastor for a parish family is another thing than being a pastor of a parish. It is going to be more complicated for a first-time pastor to have what we might call an entry-level parish. They won’t exist. They’ll all be either large or you’ve got a lot of territory to cover.

We’re trying to be more intentional about what we are asking priests to do. One of the ways in which we’re responding to that is trying to be aware of the whole person and not just what their skill sets are.

What is the term of a pastor?

The local conference of bishops (here it’s the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops) determines how long terms will be. So in our country, pastors are assigned for six years and can be renewed for another six years.

Can a pastor be moved in the middle of his term?

A pastor has the canonical right to stay until the end of his term. (Priest administrators do not enjoy that same right.) In the past, unless we really had to, we wouldn’t go to a priest who’s still in his term as pastor and say we’d really like you to go somewhere else. It happens, but we really try to keep that to a minimum.

The archbishop can’t force someone to leave if they are still within their canonical assignment. But once the term ends, then the ball is in the archbishop’s court.

What role does a priest’s vow of obedience play?

A priest is ordained to serve the local church, an archdiocese or diocese, and the archbishop is the shepherd of this local church. We take a vow of obedience, so when there is a need, we do all we can to serve that need, even when it means self-sacrifice.

In my years as being vicar for clergy, I have found the priests to be very generous. Sometimes they’ve offered reasons why not to say yes, and we dialogue. In my conversations with priests, by and large they know they’ve made a vow of obedience, and it isn’t just about terms of service or their own needs. Those things do play into the conversation, but ultimately they really have made a commitment to serve. I’ve heard and experienced that over the years. I’m grateful for it and humbled by it.

How do you support priests transitioning to a new parish?

In the past, the Office of the Vicar for Clergy had field staff that worked with the priests and the parishes. Now, with Partners in the Gospel, we’re going to have parish liaisons. We’re very aware that the new pastors and the parish staffs are going to need a lot of support to negotiate this well. It’s going to be a much longer process than in the past.

Also, after the priest assignments are announced, we’ll have a retreat in the latter part of April for the pastors to help them prepare spiritually, emotionally and pastorally for what is a very different assignment than what most of them have had. The last day of the retreat will include the parochial vicars. This is the first time we’ve done this since I’ve been ordained.

Are priests evaluated regularly?

We have historically done this in the fifth year for pastors — the year before their term is up. Generally, that has included having questionnaires sent to their staff, pastoral council, some members of parish commissions and some parishioners, then a summary is made of the responses. It hasn’t always been as helpful as one might think — it’s not really getting at what we need to help priests in their growth.

A new priest has a mentor priest the first year, usually the pastor. New priests also are evaluated each year before they get their own parish. The first few years, they’re just learning a lot. So we want to track how they’re growing and where their challenges might be, and how we can help them.

Editor’s note: This article contains bonus content. The original article appeared in the February/March issue of Northwest Catholic magazine.

More about Father Gary Zender

Father Gary Zender, ordained in 1986, has experienced several assignment changes during his priesthood. He was a parochial vicar for seven years, at All Saints Parish in Puyallup and St. Michael Parish in Olympia, then was pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Enumclaw and St. Anthony Parish in Renton. Now he is pastor of St. Louise Parish in Bellevue and priest moderator of St. Madeleine Sophie Parish in Bellevue. Father Zender served as the archdiocese’s vicar for Catholic charities  from 2010-14 and has been the archdiocese’s vicar for clergy for a decade in addition to his role as a pastor.

What’s next?

  • Archbishop Paul D. Etienne will announce final configurations for parish families the weekend of Feb. 3-4.
  • Priest assignments, including pastors and parochial vicars, for the families are expected to be announced in late April.
  • You’ll find the latest developments at NWCatholic.org.