Michelle Samartino | The Michigan Catholic
Detroit— Not many can deny that a priest’s life is busy from morning until night – and oftentimes beyond even that. And what many busy priests can agree on is that it takes the help of so many others to carry out God’s work.
Fr. Victor Clore, who serves as administrator at St. Scholastica Elementary School and also as pastor at Christ the King Parish and School in Detroit, calls it “multitasking in the vineyard of the Lord.”
“Juggling several things at once comes with being a parish priest,” he says.
He recalls his childhood pastor as being a jack of all trades. “Obviously he was the center of attention on Sunday, at weddings, when my little brother was baptized, and when someone died.
“I have vivid memories of piling into his car with the other altar boys with the incense and holy water, as we drove out into the country to the home of the deceased person, whose casket would be resting on the dining room table,” he adds. “I can remember the sense of peacefulness that came over the family, from the adults to the little children.”
With that knowledge led Fr. Clore to understand that “a priest is available to people at all stages of their life, in any situation.”
Even his first assignment at St. Francis de Sales in Detroit involved not only presiding at the liturgies, “but also teaching in the school, adult classes in Scripture and topics explored by the Vatican Council, school sports events, going to block club meetings to discuss racial integration, community organization, summer Bible school, ecumenical prayer services, and so on.”
A multitasking priest is a sign of the times, and is common no matter where a priest lives out his vocation, says Fr. Tim Hogan, archdiocesan vicar for Clergy and Consecrated Life. “The work of the Church today is complex and very active participating on the local, national and international scene,” he says. “I think our priests are affected and challenged in many ways; some ways are better than others. There are many moving parts and roles that are filled by the priest and lay men and women working together in a wonderful complementary style.
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“When you combine the work with the lower number of priests compared to the Catholic population, there is a need for multiple responsibilities among the clergy.”
But God fills in where there is a void, Fr. Clore says, “The big difference is that nowadays most of us are the only priest on the scene, and we depend on many coworkers, as St. Paul called them.”
Fr. Hogan agreed. “I frequently reflect on St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians when Paul asks the Lord to remove what he considered a ‘thorn in the flesh.’ He responded with, ‘My grace is sufficient, for in your weakness my power is made perfect.’
“In our struggles, we can see the grace of God in very powerful ways,” Fr. Hogan adds.
Fr. Clore has several coworkers assist him at Christ the King: a Home Visitor of Mary pastoral minister, a laywoman MSW, an office manager, a deacon, ministers of service, the principal in the school, and the director of the soup kitchen.
“You can juggle several projects if they each contribute to your fundamental passion. My passion is helping people develop their God-given potentials,” he says. “This is important because most of the helping professions try to get people to reach their potentials. But what is unique about pastoring is the fact that we believe that everyone has potentials that are given by God.”
Fr. Clore helps those reach their potential in two ways, he says: by promoting leadership skills among the people of God, and proclaiming the Good News to the people of Detroit, especially the underprivileged. “Our parish runs a soup kitchen and a pantry, but the best service we can give to the poor is a good education,” he says.
Through all of this, Fr. Clore is helping guide the new pastor at St. Scholastica Parish with the grade school, although he stresses the principals are the key leader in the schools, referring to Rosanne Jodway at Christ the King, and Faye Vaughn at St. Scholastica. “Both are experienced, dedicated professionals,” he says. “The principals run the schools. I am available when they need me.”
Fr. Clore mentioned how a seventh-grade teacher recently came to him for help to learn about Nehemiah and King Artaxerxes. “I told him a little of the history, and he was able to prepare his class to celebrate Mass on Wednesday with some understanding,” he says. “These are all coworkers. This was how St. Paul operated, and this is a sign of the times for the future. There won’t be as many priests, but there will always be priests, and there will always be all sorts of coworkers.”
For Fr. James Bjorum, taking on additional responsibilities has become a way of life. As pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish in St. Clair Shores, he is quick to clarify that he is not the pastor of “two merged parishes.”
“I’m the pastor of one, new parish, Our Lady of Hope,” he says.
In July 2009, the parishes of St. Germaine and St. Gertrude suppressed to create Our Lady of Hope Parish. “It has been my task to help foster ‘one eucharistic community’ — a key part in helping that happen is that all our weekend liturgies are celebrated at one site — our east campus (St. Gertrude Campus).”
He admits that within the past two years, during the time that Our Lady of Hope Parish took shape, have been the most challenging years of his priesthood. “But they have also been the most exciting and invigorating years,” he says.
This past summer was one of celebration for Fr. Bjorum, as he celebrated his 35th anniversary of ordination, and the second anniversary of the founding of the parish, as well as his installation as the first pastor of Our Lady of Hope. “I received so many affirmations of my ministry that I truly am enriched in my faith,” he says.
Says Fr. Clore, “It is by the grace of God that we can achieve ideals that otherwise seem out of reach; and it is the community of faith that supports people as they dare to reach for these God-inspired goals. This is what makes being a pastor so fulfilling.
“People reflexively ask ‘for father,’ but they get to understand that we are all working together, and some things, many things, are not in my job description,” he adds. “It can be hectic trying to keep track of everything, but that’s what prayer is for – to quietly let God sort things out and help me get some perspective.
“There’s never any shortage of things to pray about in parish ministry,” he says.
