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“Ask a Priest: What If There Are Tensions With a New Pastor?”

Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC
Q: I help lead a parish choir, and we are struggling to communicate with a new pastor. Our choir is not yet established properly, but we are trying our best. Our parish priest limited us to use only traditional hymns, which we aren’t familiar with yet. Father has limited our rehearsals, explaining that it is intrusion into his private time. Also, he sometimes communicates with women in an unacceptable way (it might be a cultural difference). We are trying to work with him, but he doesn’t seem open to compromise. – M.B.

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: Since I don’t know the priest’s point of view, I try to keep the advice general.

First, division in a parish can be an opportunity. It can be a chance for everyone to grow in humility and patience.

The devil would love to cause division in the parish. The parish is there to bring people closer to Jesus, so it is worth the effort to find a solution.

You and/or another parishioner might consider approaching the priest privately and explain the difficulties you see.

You might propose a period of transition for the choir. That is, ask that the choir be allowed to use its current hymns, but set a deadline for the introduction of the traditional hymns favored by the priest.

If he is having trouble dealing with women, it might be good for two of the mature women in the parish to approach him and speak with him. It is understandable that there are problems if he comes from another culture.

In the meantime, it would be good to intensify your prayer for the priest and the parish.

As I say, this situation could be an opportunity for growth in humility and patience — for everyone involved.

 

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Alex Kucera

Atlanta

Alex Kucera has lived in Atlanta, GA, for the last 46 years. He is one of 9 children, married to his wife Karmen, and has 3 girls, one grandson, and a granddaughter on the way. Alex joined Regnum Christi in 2007. Out of the gate, he joined the Helping Hands Medical Missions apostolate and is still participating today with the Ghana Friendship Mission.

In 2009, Alex was asked to be the Atlanta RC Renewal Coordinator for the Atlanta Locality to help the RC members with the RC renewal process. Alex became a Group Leader in 2012 for four of the Atlanta Men’s Section Teams and continues today. Running in parallel, in 2013, Alex became a Team Leader and shepherded a large team of good men.

Alex was honored to be the Atlanta Mission Coordinator between 2010 to 2022 (12 years), coordinating 5-8 Holy Week Mission teams across Georgia. He also created and coordinated missions at a parish in Athens, GA, for 9 years. Alex continues to coordinate Holy Week Missions, Advent Missions, and Monthly missions at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Cumming, GA.

From 2016 to 2022, Alex also served as the Men’s Section Assistant in Atlanta. He loved working with the Men’s Section Director, the Legionaries, Consecrated, and Women’s Section leadership teams.

Alex is exceptionally grateful to the Legionaries, Consecrated, and many RC members who he’s journeyed shoulder to shoulder, growing his relationship with Christ and others along the way. He knows that there is only one way, that’s Christ’s Way, with others!