Q: Is it OK to send a priest a text now and then to just say hello and how are you? I ask because a priest from my parish left, and he gave me his phone number as he did to many of the parishioners, to keep in touch. But I notice how this priest is not responding and I find that to be rude. Is it wrong of me to feel this way? — M.
Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC:
I can only guess that this priest is swamped with work at his new parish and might not have time to respond to people from his old parish, no matter what his hopes were.
A parish priest’s priority normally must be with his current flock, not with his previous flock.
It would be good to give him the benefit of the doubt and pray for him.
And don’t take his silence too personally.