Two new priests came to the Diocese of Santa Rosa in February to exercise their priestly ministry. Reverend Rowell MOP from the Philippines, is a Religious priest of the Missionaries of the Poor and Reverend Sudhakar Mannam from India, is a Diocesan priest of the Diocese of Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Bishop Vasa made the following assignments:
Reverend Rowell Gumalay MOP as the Parochial Vicar of the parishes of St. Bernard’s and Sacred Heart, Eureka, CA, effective February 22, 2019.
Reverend Sudhakar Mannam as the Parochial Vicar of St. Francis Solano parish, Sonoma, CA, effective March 1, 2019.
From Diocese of Santa Rosa.
Is this news because they are foreigners?
Prior to Vatican II, there were always many priests — and lots of nuns, too! After the Council ended, a priest shortage was predicted. The prediction sadly was correct! About 200,000 priests — and a few prelates– resigned. The Church has been importing priests to serve in American dioceses, from around the world– to fill the priest shortages here.
If you are pointing to Vatican II as the cause for the shortage of priests in the Church, you’re on wobbly ground. The very fact that the West is “importing” priests from other countries means that the Council itself, which is likewise being implemented in those other countries, discounts the theory that Vatican II is responsible for the shortage.
jon– right after the Council, we all were warned of an impending priest shortage! Also, lots of nuns were leaving! What do responsible Catholic parents do– with large families of children, all in Catholic schools, taught by religious orders of teaching nuns?? That is a big responsibility! Our parish school finally closed, and the school building and convent were sold! Next– the normal numbers of 5-6 priests in our rectory dwindled to one. Soon, the Bishop talked of closing our beautiful old church! ! Instead– they began importing priests from Third World countries– and that saved our church!
Of course— the Church has always sent out priests to fulfill various needs, all over the world, for many centuries! Before the Council– if our parish occasionally had a foreign priest– he was usually from a European country. Some became U.S. citizens. Today, more than 50 years after the priest shortage crisis began– my old parish (a beautiful historical landmark!) now is being cared for by a religious order. The number of families has shockingly dwindled– and parents still cry for a good Catholic school– like the one that closed in the 1970s! But they are glad that our church was spared a closure (so far!) by the Bishop!
Year ago there was a large number of FBI [foreign born Irish] priests. So importing priests is nothing new