Bishop Gregory Bennet - Best Practices

INTRODUCTION

I am humbled to have this opportunity to share with you some examples of ongoing spiritual formation in the lives of priests, drawn from my own experience in ongoing formation, my Diocese of Sale and from other dioceses in Australia.

I am grateful for the network of Clergy Life and Ministry Directors appointed by bishops in every diocese in Australia. They provide a true listening ear to the joys, hopes, and challenges faced by priests. The Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, National Director is present, Father Khalid Marogi, along with other diocesan directors whose thoughtful ministry positively impacts clergy across our vast land.

Being a priest demands a close and personal relationship with the Lord. It is vital that we keep our lives tuned to His closeness to us. It can be difficult to witness to the Good News in a world of so many competing voices. It can be a challenge for clergy to maintain a deep spiritual life amidst the demands and expectations placed upon them. In a kaleidoscope of competing images, short sound bites, and influencers, how can priests remain authentic witnesses of the Good News in this time? We all need spiritual help, support, guidance, encouragement, and one another, to continually begin anew from the Source.

We want our priests to flourish: to be joyful, attentive pastors of their people, with hearts full of the love of Jesus. God’s people deserve priests who truly care about them and who can walk with them closely as bearers of Good News. They know when a priest is authentic because they hear it in his words, and they experience it in his healing ministry.

If we are going to assist the spiritual life of our priests and nurture their closeness to the Lord, an intentional approach to integrating ongoing formation is required. We want our priests to be partners with us: in communion with the bishop, and those responsible for ongoing formation programs. Ideally this is done with other clergy, religious, lay women and men as a community of discernment.

Some of the key practices to assist priests in maintaining and developing their spiritual life and effective ministry include celebration of the Eucharist, retreats, spiritual direction, reconciliation, daily meditation, reflection on ministry, examination of conscience, praying the Liturgy of the Hours and other devotions, including the Rosary. Inspired by the lives of the saints, mystics, artists, poets, spiritual writers, musicians, the beauty of creation we learn to open our lives to the mystery of God and Jesus’ promise: “I do not call you servants, I call you my friends” (Jn 15:15).

Practical best practice strategies may include:

Annual Clergy Retreats: All clergy are expected to attend the annual retreat. Beyond the formal talks there are periods of Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, Masses, celebration of Reconciliation, anointing of the sick, and prayer in common. The Directors are chosen for their expertise in scripture, spirituality, and their capacity to preach with empathy to the lived experience of priests. Such powerful experiences during retreats open pathways to examination of conscience and call forth a transformation of attitude – God’s voice is heard in silence.

Days of Recollection/Prayer: The liturgical calendar is used to provide days of recollection. In my Diocese we also gather on the Feast of St John Vianney with the day often led by clergy of the Diocese. Their testimony is illuminating and reveals the depth of prayer and their closeness with God. The witness of prayer – meditation – examination of conscience – is a pattern which is formative in the lives of clergy and builds fraternity.

I am inspired by the clergy of my Diocese who model such capacity to pray and meditate upon the Word revealing a closeness to the living Word: The Word is spoken in them and through them.

Spiritual Direction: It is an expectation that priests put in place regular spiritual direction, we support them in this regard and this forms part of their personal ongoing formation program. Given the distances in my own dioceses and other dioceses in Australia zoom is a useful tool.

Prayer Groups: Many priests belong to prayer groups: charismatic movements, Marian Groups, Lectio Divina Groups, Meditation Groups, family groups, and others which sustain the spirituality of our priests. Such opportunities for prayer in common with lay people offer moments of inspiration and spiritual growth. I am deeply moved when priests recognise this holiness and grace as formative in their own lives.

Annual Clergy Inservice/Guided Reading/Ongoing Education: Each year priests attend a one-week in-service. We use these opportunities to model prayer, deep listening, and discernment. Ongoing education in theology, pastoral praxis, and reflection on diocesan mission initiatives are central to such gatherings. Good things happen when priests gather in prayerful solidarity with one another and their bishop.

Gatherings for Clergy Ordained under Ten Years and International Clergy: Special attention is given to the “newly ordained” and international clergy. Such gatherings are based in prayerful reflection and enable deep sharing. We need to carefully accompany our young priests, not patronise them, but to walk with them.

In 2023 the three regional dioceses of our Province in Victoria came together for such a gathering with all three bishops in attendance. It was a wonderful opportunity to listen to the priests share about their own spiritual lives which are so deeply formed by their reflections on pastoral experience and identifying the closeness of God.

The witness of lay people continues to form, nourish, and sustain priests so we must find ways to listen to them and to include them in our ongoing formation.

Pastoral Ministry Supervision: All priests on appointment participate in pastoral supervision in groups or individually at least six times per year. These facilitated sessions enable careful reflection upon one’s ministry and form attentiveness to the movement of the Spirit in our conduct.

Conclusion

We can assist priests in their spiritual formation by accompanying them as they return to the Source of love. It is a life-long journey of a synodal Church. It is a partnership of formation with the whole Church. We are formed by our ministry, our people, our presbyterates, and our dioceses and it is there we experience the closeness of God. We need to do all in our power to assist priests to grow in holiness and to allow the Spirit of God to make of them powerful witnesses of Jesus Christ who asks his disciples each day, “Who do you say I am?” (Mt 16:15).