Not yet senior:
Still active after all these years

	STILL SERVING: Fr. Tony Dolski distributes Communion at St. Francis Xavier Parish, De Pere. Although old enough to retire, he is one of several priests in the diocese who chooses to keep serving fulltime in parish ministry. (Rick Evans photo)

By Joanne Flemming
Compass Correspondent

Why do some priests choose to remain pastors at age 70 when they could retire as senior priests?

There may be as many answers as there are priests over 70 who are still searching. For many, it's their way to help meet the priest shortage.

"Some are called to carry on after 70," said Fr. Richard Allen, 70, pastor of St. Gabriel Parish, Neenah, for 20 years.

However, he also thinks that the church's allowing senior priests to remain at their posts is a means of "not facing the problem of ... vocations honestly. I do worry that our church is simply not facing the real problem ... in some way I am helping the church to avoid facing it."

Fr. Allen estimated that "there are more diocesan priests over 70 serving on a very regular basis than under." While he finds "that scary," he "marvels at the dedication of so many priests."

Figures from the diocese show there are twice as many priests under 70 serving full-time, as there are priests over 70 serving full or part-time.

"If it weren't for the senior clergy, the parishes of this diocese would be greatly under served," said Fr. Paul Demuth, diocesan vicar for ministers.   Full story ...

Sidebar: Who is serving
Sidebar: Who they are

	Mass Times 2005 Summer Mass Schedules (from May 20 issue)

 • Reflection on the Readings by Auxiliary Bishop Morneau --
    June 26, 2005: Little things were concerns of Jesus
    July 3, 2005: To do God's will is the only choice

 • Explaining the Scripture by Fr. Richard Ver Bust --
    June 26, 2005: Transformed in our union with Christ
    July 3, 2005: The Spirit, not the law, brings life

 • Editorial -- Worthy of respect
    Most Catholics have probably never heard of this man, despite how much
    he helped us

 • Editorial -- Doing justice to the Fourth
    Reasons to celebrate and for us to improve

 • Foundations of Faith --
    'Mine! Mine! Mine!' can lead down a bad, bad road
    Lust and greed isolate us from others and lead to cold hearts

 • Saint of the Day --
    Their memory, not names, lives on
    Paul and Peter among these first martyrs of Rome

 • Stewardship: A Way of Life --
    Stewards experience God's grace
    For much of her life she was haunted by her anger for this one man

 • Calendar of Events

Articles on Bishop's Appeal 2005

• Gifts top $4 million to support 2005 Bishop's Appeal (Apr. 29, 2005) • Reaching outside school walls (Apr. 8, 2005) • Covered by a big umbrella (Mar. 25, 2005)   Sidebar: Amount raised so far • Service helps cash-strapped dig out of hole (Mar. 18, 2005) • Meeting the needs of burgeoning population (Mar. 11, 2005) • Compass brings news with Catholic perspective (Mar. 4, 2005) • Bringing the church to those with disabilities (Feb. 25, 2005) • Bridging the Gap by Bishop David Zubik --    Driving in the left hand lane (Feb. 25, 2005) • Campus ministry fuels students' growth in faith (Feb. 18, 2005) • Bishop's Appeal brings Faces of Faith to others (Feb. 11, 2005) • Pie chart of Bishop's Appeal use