Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Fr. Bechtel: Knight For Christ

Fr. David Bechtel, a priest in the Diocese of Scranton ordained in June 2008, and a frequent commenter here at The Rockin" Traddy, has been kind enough to give us a taste of his first year serving the people of Christ. This Knight For Christ understands what his mission is, and he carries it out everyday.

Give it a read, post your comments, and join me in welcoming Father Bechtel to The Rockin' Traddy!

I went to three seminaries. For the sake of brevity I will talk only about Saint Charles, since that is the one I most recently graduated from. Seminary has four areas of formation: Academic, Spiritual, Pastoral, and Human. The ones given the emphasis are naturally Academic and Spiritual.

Academically Saint Charles prepared me for ministry because the professors are very orthodox. They gave me the tools I need to both defend and teach what the Church believes. I am very grateful to the seminary for the Academic training I received. I feel it adequate not in content, but only in so far as there is so much to learn in such a confined time. I would love to take the opportunity to go into even more detail. There are a lot of attacks on the Faith which come in many forms- whether from protestant fundamentalism or liberal, secular, atheistic humanism. In any case priests need to be able to defend and teach the Faith, and because of Saint Charles I am far better able to teach and defend the Faith then I was before going.

The Spirituality of the seminary tends to be devotional in nature. Stations of the Cross were staples during Lent on Fridays. Marian devotions were plentiful. One of the weaknesses of seminary life is that things tend to be monastic in nature. In other words our day is planned around our prayer. However ministry is quite the opposite- you plan prayer around your day. There is not going to be a bell to summon you to chapel for evening prayer, or night prayer. In ministry you have to make the time to pray, if you don't make that time, you will not be faithful to your prayer life. I find I have the time to pray most days if I want the time to do so. Priests who claim they are too busy to pray (including myself) are simply too busy. They need to step back and put their priorities in order. This was no surprise for me upon entering priestly ministry. Though the seminary prayer life is far different from parish life, I fully expected it to be so.

Pastorally, Seminary gives each student an "Apostolate" whereby one day a week, (weekends for Transitional Deacons) they leave the seminary and work in some ministry setting. It might be a hospice, a hospital, a prison, a parish, etc. You get pastoral experience through these assignments, then reflect on them in seminary.
Human Formation is always on going. Basically seminary evaluates your progress and work, your personality, etc to see if you are suitable for ministry. They don't change your personality, but rather try to smooth out the rough edges so you can be effective in ministry.

My first assignment was Saint Mary of the Mount in Mount Pocono. There I was a Transitional Deacon for a year. I had a wonderful experience there. My first priestly assignment was Saint Matthews. I knew the parish and the area being stationed in Mt Pocono as a Deacon. My first assignment was everything I expected. Saint Matthew's in particular was everything I expected it would be. There were no surprises. The pastor who is well respected by the people and the Diocese, leads the parish in a way not atypical of priests in his generation. The assistants for the most part tend to the ministry aspect of parish life, the pastor to the business aspect though not exclusively.

My duties included the hospital, CCD presence, grade school presence, youth group, hospice and nursing home visits, home visits, etc. Given that as a Deacon I did all of this at Saint Mary's it was nothing for me to show up at Saint Matthew's and continue these duties. It was quite a smooth transition. The only difference was that now I could hear Confessions and anoint people instead of referring them to a priest. In other words the ministry did not change, what changed was that I could now offer the people Sacraments, especially Confession and Anointing.

Honestly after my first year as priest I feel that seminary best prepared me for MINISTRY. However the time will come when I will also have to be a PASTOR whereby I will make decisions, set the agenda, direction, goals, etc, of a parish. This is something seminary did not prepare me for nor any parish experience. Naturally only one person can be in charge and make the decisions and that is the role of the pastor, not the assistant or Transitional Deacon. However when I was a Deacon at Saint Mary's the pastor did try to teach and share with me the "how to" in running a parish. He might explain what decision he made and his thought process behind the decision, etc. This was very helpful for me to understand the different aspects and factors involved as to why something is done in the manner in which it is done, etc. He would talk about his previous assignments and the challenges he faced in them and how he met them.

I was only at Saint Matthew's for a year, but given the size of the parish, and the fact that there is something going on there just about every night of the week, sometimes two and three things at a time, I was able participate in every conceivable parish ministry and gain more experience with it. I think that because of my time at Saint Matthew's I have been prepared for every conceivable ministry one might encounter in a parish. The people of the parish are wonderful people and very generous.

My new assignment is working full time as a chaplain to a school system whereby I teach and provide the Sacramental and spiritual needs for the students. As of right now, until someone can be hired or appointed for full time Campus Ministry, the Diocese has chosen to join Penn College with my assignment at the school. They have appointed me part time Chaplain to Penn College. It is as of now unclear when someone would be hired or appointed, so I will serve the college for an indeterminate time. I will serve the college pretty much in the same capacity as I serve the school. I will provide the Sacramental and or Spiritual needs of the students/staff/professors with particular attention to Catholic students of course.

The Faithful at both assignments, and my current one have received me well, at least as far as I can observe. Saint Mary's was very welcoming, Saint Matthew's the same. I am not naive to think all of the Faithful loved me, I am sure some did not like me at all. I am sure in this assignment there will be Faithful who will not like me. However thus far if anyone did not like me, they were not vocal about it that I ever heard. I was never aware of any complains at either of my former assignments. This is not to say there weren't any, but I was never aware of them. I can only assume whatever mistakes I made were not seen as huge or unforgivable by the Faithful.

I was only rebuked twice. The first was by someone after Mass for a homily they found "offensive." I publicly mentioned Nancy Pelosi's error on abortion. I called her sarcastically the "Shrieker of the House." The congregation roared with laughter, but there is always someone who just has to take the requisite "offense" at something. The person told me they felt that was unprofessional and unbecoming of my office and that such comments ought to be left to "Fox News, not the pulpit." I gave the person the benefit of the doubt on that one, since they did not rebuke me for speaking against abortion, but only the manner in which I did so. For the record I never heard Fox News refer to Pelosi in that way. I got that from Mike Church Sirius Patriot 144 Satellite Radio. But- again, I can grant the person's complaint and give them the benifit of the doubt.

The second was when I spoke about priesthood. During the homily I brought up why the Church reserves ordination to men. Men image Christ the Bridegroom, women the Church, the Bride of Christ, etc. A person said to me after Mass "Well Father perhaps the Church will allow discussion on the issue of women's ordination in the future." To which I replied "What is there to discuss? The Church has already discussed and settled the issue. What is it you would like the Church to discuss at this point?" To which the person walked away in a huff. That I cannot help or grant of course, since as a priest I teach what the Church teaches, not what people think I should teach or want to hear.

As far as the whole Martino controversy all I can say is that it really was not an issue where I was at either assignments. Catholicism in the Eastern end of the Diocese is very different from valley style Catholicism. (Wilkes-barre/Scranton) The culture is different. It is something you have to experience. As a newly ordained priest, I can say that I miss him as our bishop. I grant he was not perfect- I grant I did not always agree with everything he did--- but one thing that always helped me was the realization that the Diocese does not revolve around me. I did not get ordained so the Diocese can serve ME, rather I got ordained to serve the Diocese. Bishop Martino had a tough job to do. The people seemed quick on complaints, but short on lasting and meaningful solutions to the very real problems this Diocese faces. Their reaction to what he had to do is rather confounding given that they were aware of the problems long before he took over.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Father Bechtel--How do think more men can be brought into the priesthood? Heaven knows, we need them.
Elaine

Anonymous said...

Father Bechtel,

Can you go into some brief detail as to the differences between the valley and the eastern region? What difference did you notice?

Also, do you enjoy ministering in the valley more, or in the eastern rural areas. I know the east has a NY/NJ influence as well.

Thank you very, very much for sharing this!


Scr Area Catholic

Anonymous said...

Elaine:

There are many ways to answer this question, so please understand that my answer is not meant to be all inclusive.

There is, I think, an identity crisis today among the clergy. Priests do not understand priesthood. They do not understand The ESSENCE of the priesthood. Too many priests try to be Social Workers, Counselors, Problem Solvers, Collaboraters, Team Leaders, etc. Much of that is important, but none of it really speaks to the nature of the priesthood itself.

The essence of the priesthood is Sacrifice. That is what a priest DOES, he offers the atonement Sacrifice, the Sacrifice of Calvary. Priests need to recover the Christological dimension of the priesthood. It seems it is this dimension which is minimized these days becasue some would say it creates too much of a distinction between the Faithful and the Priest. HOGWASH. Priests need to realize WHO they are and WHAT they represent, and NOT apologize for it. They need to stop worrying about whether the people think they are "Cool" "Hip" and "With it" and start worrying about how well they live up to their noble calling. Priests are Spiritual Fathers of the parish, they are not the primarily Collaborators in Chief, or the Consensus builders in chief. Priests head a community through participation in the pastorship of their bishop, the bishop who is the Christ in his Diocese. As a result the priest being an extension of the bishop is an extension of Christ.

In short, then, we need to recover the identity of the priest. It is my belief that one of the reasons they is a shortage of vocations is due to the identity crisis of the clergy. Priests are not sending clear messages of what it means to be a priest. In the name of "empowering the laity" in "the Spirit of Vatican II" they wind up trampeling the dignity of the priesthood of the baptized.

The laity preside in the altar of the world, NOT the altar of the Church. A sucessful parish is NOT necessarily on in which you have legions upon legions of EM'S, Liturgy Committee's, Peace and Justice Commitee's, etc. Those are important, perhaps, but not the measure of success. A Sucessful parish is one where the Eucharist is central, and the people are giving the world what they themselves have recieved; one in which the people LIVE THEIR FAITH IN THE WORLD and do not treat their Faith as a private matter.

I judge the sucess of my minsitry by how well the people follow my example, by how well they live their Faith in the World. I do NOT judge the sucess of my minsitry by how many committee's I have formed. The vocation of the laity is NOT in the Church, but the WORLD. MY Vocation is IN the Church, that is why God called me to orders. The lay people take the food I feed them with: the Body of Christ into the altar of the world and they make it fruitful.

While there are many practical considerations in answer to your question, I have choosen to take a more spiritual direction in my answer. The Identity of the priest and the Christological dimension of the priest MUST be recovered if we are to attract vocations.

God Bless, hope my answer helps.

Father Dave Bechtel

Anonymous said...

So much stuff goes on behind what regular parishoners like me see, with chain of command and other such things. Interesting. I just go in, attend the mass, listen to the homily, take the Eucharist (wine anyway), pray etc.

Also, only two complaints doesn't sound so bad! I might be cynical, but I'd assume anyone in any sort of 'public' or 'authority' position would get lots of complaints.

- L

Anonymous said...

Elaine:

A more practical answer:

(By the way, I said priests don't understand priesthood- and I am no exception. I don't know it all either.)

While prayer is important, we can't just pray vocations into the Church. WE, which is to say the Diocese AND the FAITFUL need to ACTIVELY seek out and ENCOURAGE vocations to the priesthood.

We will not encourage vocations by publically criticizing our bishop. We will not produce vocations by publically dissenting from Church teachings. We will not produce vocations by publically holding protests becasue we don't like what the bishop does.
All of those things are great ways to KILL a vocation, but none of them will PRODUCE a vocation.

We will produce vocations by publically supporting our bishop, most especially when he defends and teaches what the Church teaches and believes. We will produce vocations by TRUSTING and SUBMITTING to God's Holy and Inerrant Word as recieved by the Church and handed on through Scripture and Tradition. We will produce vocations when we LIVE the Faith PUBLICALLY and stop making excuses for ourselves such as "Well, my Faith is a private matter, between me and God."

It is not just the job of the Diocese, or myself to produce vocations, it is the job of the Faithful. The Faithful, the parents have to encourage vocations, and seek them out. The attitude I get from parents is "Well, priesthood is great for SOMEONE ELSE'S Son. Religious life is great for SOMEONE ELSE'S daughter. Attitudes like this, which are prevalent are not conducive to producing vocations. The Diocese AND the Faithful, EVERYONE needs to work together if we are to attract vocations.

God Bless,

Father Dave Bechtel

Anonymous said...

Scranton Area:

Do I like ministering in the Valley more or the Eastern Areas? I am NOT touching that with a 100 foot pole! I like ministry wherever I happened to be assigned! Currently I am in the West. How is that for you?

You ask about the differences. I can only talk about what I percieve. If my perceptions are felt to be innacurate, then please correct me. I am only speaking from perception, not necessarily stating absolute fact. It must be noted that I have never been assigned as a priest in the valley. I was assigned to Saint Nicks in the summer of 06 as a seminarian intern- all during the flood!

Generally speaking the Eastern areas of the Diocese are the areas which are experiencing the most growth. The Western areas seem to be stable, the middle areas (the Valley) is where the most shifts in population have taken place.

Seconldy, the whole Martino affair did not seem to be much of an issue in the East. Whereas in Scranton/Wilkesbarre, and perhaps Hazelton to some degree, his doings were reported in the paper almost daily, in the East you barely heard about it. The people might have an idea of the issues- but it did not seem to be something they were overly concerned with. Perahps this is becasue the Eastern edge was the least effected by Holiness and Mission.

You correctly note the New York City influence. Many people are moving and or communting to and from New York. East Stroudsburg was often nicknamed the "Sixth Burrough of Manhattan."

I hope my answer helps!

Father Dave Bechtel

Anonymous said...

L,

Only two complaints I am AWARE of. We were taught that for everyone who actually complains, that represents about 30 people who feel the same way.

I can't do anything about it when it comes to preaching the Faith, but I can do something about it when the complaint is not unreasonable. It was not unreasonable to ask me to refrain from name calling "Shreaker of the House."

I am willing to listen to someone if they have a complaint. If they are right I will admit my mistake.

Father Dave Bechtel

Anonymous said...

Also, Father, by "east" do you mean Wayne, Pike, and Monroe?

Thanks,

Scr Area Cath

Anonymous said...

Thanks Father Bechtel, Your answers were very enlightening.
Elaine

Anonymous said...

Father Bechtel,

But I still think that's pretty good or a pretty low count even for those that have been brought to your attention!

"We were taught that for everyone who actually complains, that represents about 30 people who feel the same way. "

That sounds like a good rule of thumb, probably pretty close to the truth. I'll have to remember that one....

Thanks for your response!
- L

The Rockin' Traddy said...

Father!

Thanks for agreeing to speak to my tens of readers, it seems to have gone over well.

I agree wholeheartedly about the clerical identity crisis. If priests can again see themselves as Alter Christus and can manage to pass all that entails along to the faithful, then maybe young boys can see priests as a strong Catholic influence to be emulated.

And you are right when you basically said we each need to know our place. That may sound harsh how I put it, but it's true. Priests are priests, laymen are laymen. This clouding the lines between the clergy and laity has done nothing but confuse the faithful. I know priests that are cuckolded by "liturgical committees", music directors, and "priestess wannabees" who run the parishes and only bring the pastor in to tell him what they've decided.

How do you think we can change this around?

Christian said...

I think a very important solution to the vocation crisis in holy orders is the present and huge vocation crisis in marriage. Statisitcally catholic marriages are not significatnly more stable than the secular culture, and fewer and fewer people are actually getting married. To add insult to injury, the marriage is less treated as a sacred covenant than it is a a contractual partnership. We need to reclaim our own spiritual identities and live out our faith so that our children will do so likewise and see the world in a sacramental way. ***Plug*** Guardian of the Redeemer Catholic Men's Fellowship is having a Breakfast Gathering at the East Mtn Inn in W-B on Saturday, calling men out to get fired up and take charge of their spirituality. Check us out at www.guardianofthereddemerckf.org or the blog at http://guardianoftheredeemer.wordpress.com . ***Plug Plug***. We now return you to your irregularly scheduled Traddy.

Anonymous said...

Sir Rockin One:

How do I think we can change this around?

Simple: Just as priests need to be priests, pastors need to be pastors. Pastors must assert themselves over music minsisters, or committee's and not allow them to "cokole" him. However, as I said before- it is going to be slow going. Since Vatican II, people have been taught that Vatican II says things it never said, or that Vatican II intends things it never intended. It is not all the people's fault you know. They have not been taught the Faith. There is a whole generation -at least- of Catholics who don't know the Faith.

Actually, maybe you know of specifics, but I am not aware specifics right now. Generally speaking I would think these issues can manifest themselves when pastors are transferred, especially if the guy was one of those guys who was pastor of a place for many, many years. People just get used to the way things are done. The new guy comes in and over night it isn't that way anymore. The new guy isn't going to be a continuation of the former adminstration, and people will naturally react to that. Of course a wise pastor recognizes this and has patience with the people, and also makes the necessary changes slowly making sure to catechize the people and explain to them why he is doing what he is doing.

I think in general our Diocese is pretty solid. I think we are fortunate here. Granted we have our issues- but none of them compare to some of the nonsense that goes on in other places. I think compared to how bad it could be.

Father Dave Bechtel

Anonymous said...

Scranton Area Catholic:

Yes, especially Monroe County.

Elain, God Bless, L, thank you.

Father Dave Bechtel

Anonymous said...

Christian

Yes, I agree. That is another way to look at the problem

Father Dave Bechtel

Anonymous said...

One more question, Father! How many priests come out of Monroe/Pike/Wayne the east compared to "the valley?"

I would be interested in seeing if more obedient areas produce more priests!

Any recently from Monroe, Pike, Wayne, etc?

What is the western region like?

Thank you very much again, and God Bless You. Perhaps if we realize where vocations are coming from, we can find out why, and utilize that in other areas.

Scr Area Cath

Anonymous said...

Scranton Area Catholic:

I don't really know. I can tell you that perhaps as much as half of the ordinations which took place in the last several years were guys who came from outside the Diocese- like myself.

I LOVE the Western edge of the Diocese, and my assignment goes well. I used to live in this part of the Diocese before I was a priest, so I know the area quite well. The person just ordained was from Williamsport, which is where I am assigned. I certainly hope to be able to raise up some vocations.

Father Dave Bechtel

Anonymous said...

If I may ask, what made you choose to come from outside the diocese as opposed to your own?

Also, were you public school or Catholic? I've noticed more coming from public schools recently, which to me would show that vocations work should also be done at parish CCD programs, and youth outreach in general.

Scr ARea Cath

Anonymous said...

Scranton Area:

My former Diocese was the Diocese of Allentown. I actually entered seminary under them and came to what was our own Diocesean Seminary Saint Pius X.

Long story short, after spending time in the Diocese of Scranton for four years, I sort of knew God intended for me to serve in the Diocese of Scranton. I can give all sorts of "reasons" I reached that conclusion- but the truth of the matter is that all of those reasons fall short. I felt in my heart that this is where God wanted me, so I made the switch in my senior year of college seminary. That is not the norm however, so I was an exception to the norm. The norm is you get ordained for your home diocese.

I graduated from Nativity BVM in Pottsville PA in 1996, so I am a Catholic School graduate. The priests of the school definitately figured into influencing me to pursue a priestly vocation. It was not necessarily anything they said- just their presence and actions.

Father Dave Bechtel