The vow or promise of obedience should get its much-needed exercise in this practice.
Twenty-two priests await to be re-shuffled come 11 November 2019. Of course this process has been time-tested amongst our clergy every 5 of 6 years to present any untoward developments (or if they’ve already begun, to nip them in the bud) between the parish priest and any number of his parishioners- among other probable “entanglements”. A wise preventive, as even infants have to be weaned from their nursing moms for the eventual benefit of both parties. Besides, new assignments might keep the specter of boredom in check. I’m sure there are a few other reasons for this salutary process among the clergy which must present themselves to the reader’s mind.
It’s a given, on the order of the-sun-sets-in-the west, that everything has to have an end, The continuity if permitted or given in to, might prove to be not-so-much what we desire as its very opposite.
Besides the reasons given above to justify the continued promulgation of this practice, or opportunities for the clergy especially since the idea of evangelization is given leeway thus, engaging and re-engaging the parish priest with as many congregations as are practicable towards the spreading of the good news that is Christ’s promise. The idea of a priest’s attaching remora-like to a single behemoth of a parish and thereby setting into sloth like dependency “since no better could be had” is certainly incompatible with his vows at ordination. You have to be spreading God’s message to as many of your fellowmen as could be configured in your life’s mission.
Whether the change makes you happy or sad is not the deciding factor: the vow or promise of obedience should get its much-needed exercise in this practice.
