PASTORAL MANUAL FOR NEW PRIESTS

by Rev. Thomas F. Casey ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 11, 1962

This is a handbook of practical helps for new priests intended to smooth the transition of a young man from seminary life to service as a curate in a parish. As far as the book goes it will be all that the author intends. From the first interview with the pastor through the curate's relationships in the parish on every level, the book offers a detailed job description of various duties. There is little question that the book will be useful to every seminarian about to be ordained or to every newly ordained priest, dealing as it does with some of the practical difficulties which were not covered in the text books or lectures in the seminary. It will save the young priest embarrassment and bad experiences, but the help he is going to need most is touched on only slightly. His ministry is to the people of the parish who range widely in personality, education and religiosity. An understanding of what makes them act the way they do would increase his effectiveness immediately. When parishioners create situations which the textbooks do not discuss, the priest with an appreciation of human motivations, neuroses and psychoses can be of great service to those he is serving. Somehow in concentrating on the externals of being a priest, Father Casey lost sight of the essential message which should be transmitted to the young priest that knowing today's laity will determine the effectiveness of his ministry. May this book meet with wide readership so that the essential deficiency will be overcome in a second volume just as important to the new priest.

Pub Date: April 11, 1962

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Bruce

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1962

Categories: NONFICTION