By Father Tom Knoblach
The idea of collaborative ministry sounds somewhat modern, but it has a long history. When Moses was overwhelmed by trying to meet the needs of the Israelite community, his father-in-law Jethro advised him to select leaders who could assist him with everyday matters so he could focus on the essential aspects of his mission (Exodus 18:13-27). When Jesus began his earthly ministry, he chose twelve Apostles to accompany him and ultimately continue his saving work after the Resurrection (Luke 6:1-16; Matthew 28:19-20). When he multiplied the five loaves and two fish, he gave them to the apostles to give to the crowds (Matthew 14:13-21). Even bearing the Cross, he allowed Simon of Cyrene to assist him, the first person literally to “take up the cross and follow me” (Mark 15:21).
The Church employs collaborative ministry across its various forms of service in education, health care, social outreach and diocesan and parish structures. For priests assigned to parish work, there are pastors, parochial vicars, and more recently in the Diocese of St. Cloud, several assignments of priests in solidum. What does that mean and how is it different from more familiar models?
The Code of Canon Law explains:
Can. 543 §1. If the pastoral care of some parish or of different parishes together is entrusted to priests in solidum, each of them is obliged to perform the tasks and functions of pastor mentioned in cann. 528, 529, and 530 according to the arrangement they establish. All of them have the faculty of assisting at marriages and all the powers to dispense granted to a pastor by law; these are to be exercised, however, under the direction of the moderator … [who] alone represents in juridic affairs the parish or parishes entrusted to the group.
We have three such in solidum arrangements currently: Father Brady Keller and Father Gabriel Walz in the Five Star ACC (Browerville, Clarissa, Grey Eagle, Long Prairie, and Swanville) with Father Keller as the moderator; Father JC Duncan and Father Greg Sauer in the Mary Mother of the Church ACC (Bertha, Blue Grass, Bluffton, Menahga, Motley, Staples, Verndale, and Wadena), with Father Duncan as the moderator; and Father Tom Knoblach and Father Patrick Hoeft in the One in Christ ACC (Mayhew Lake, Sartell, St. Stephen, and Sauk Rapids), with Father Knoblach as the moderator.
That list is a mouthful, and that’s part of the reason for pastors in solidum.
All the priests in an in solidum arrangement have the same role, functions and tasks as any pastor. This is different from friendly cooperation among neighboring pastors, where joint programs or initiatives may be discussed, but where each pastor can determine what will take place in his own parish(es); they are not bound to common action but encouraged to work together when feasible and advantageous.
Priests in solidum is also distinct from the pastor / parochial vicar relationship, where the parochial vicar is a co-worker with the pastor and shares in his pastoral concern for the parish, but is under the pastor’s authority. That is, where pastors in solidum are more independent collaborators with equal canonical authority and responsibility, the parochial vicar’s role depends on the pastor to assign his specific duties and roles in the parish.
The Church’s vision for pastors in solidum allows them intentionally to determine among themselves how to divide up the pastoral work. This might be by territory, by specific areas of ministry like involvement in the school, in youth activities, in visiting the sick, in administration, perhaps by language groups they serve, etc. Yet they all share the responsibility for all the parishes in their assignment equally and as peers. Obviously, this requires good communication, coordination of efforts for the good of the whole community they serve, cooperation with all the councils, staff, and volunteers of the parish(es), and a shared pastoral vision.
The moderator is not somehow “superior in rank” as all the priests in solidum are pastors. Rather, the moderator has the responsibility to coordinate and direct the common efforts of the priests, to represent the parishe(es) in all juridic affairs (legal matters in canon and civil law), and answer for the whole enterprise to the bishop.
The goal of assigning pastors in solidum is to provide intentional and effective pastoral care to a large group of the faithful. It fosters a ministry that can be more nimble, responsive, coordinated, and a sign of the collaboration of the first Apostles under the guidance of the same Jesus Christ, our High Priest, Teacher, and Shepherd.
I’m not sure if I follow. Why are these parish pastors selected to be pastors in solidum, while others are not?
Thanks for this good question on how the pastors in solidum arrangements are determined.
The Personnel Board reviews retirements, ordinations, tenure of pastors in their current assignment, particular gifts and preferences of individual clergy, the needs of parishes, the size of the communities to be served, whether there is a school, hospital, or other ministries to be served, language needs, and a range of other factors. The smaller numbers of clergy in our diocese mean that we are asking more from each priest regardless of their placement. And of course, those retiring have a wealth of experience and skills that are not as easily replaced.
The Board discusses the upcoming assignments over the course of several months of meetings, discussions with the clergy, and input from laypersons, both on the Board and in the specific parishes being considered for changes. The Board makes recommendations to the Bishop (who also attends these meetings) and he alone makes assignments.
The pastors in solidum arrangements we have currently developed out of the size (numerical and geographical) of the communities to be served; the need for ministry to Spanish-speaking parishioners; some sense of succession planning to mentor newer pastors for larger responsibilities; capacity to serve Catholic schools and hospital ministries; the ability of the priests assigned to collaborate well; and similar considerations.
While the Personnel Board strives to use data and planning projections wisely, our work is probably more like an art than a science.
We recognize that we are asking a lot of some communities served by only one priest, but we are limited by our resources. As we hope to ordain more young men to the priesthood in the coming years, we are hopeful and grateful; at the same time, retirements on the other end of ministry mean that our numbers are likely to be roughly stable for the next decade or so.
I hope that helps explain what is in the background of these assignments this year.
Fr. Tom Knoblach
Vicar for Clergy