NORMS FOR THE RETIREMENT OF PRIESTS
I. INTRODUCTION
1. The senior years of a priest’s ordained ministry, especially the retirement years, are important for the completion and perfection of the priestly vocation. These norms are intended to promote the value and dignity of the person as well as the importance of priestly ministry and the mission of the Church.
2. In accord with the Code of Canon Law, these norms propose that retirement from a diocesan appointment does not imply an end to ministry. Upon retirement a priest enters into a “third age” where the Spirit calls him to reflect upon, to integrate, and to complete the ministry to which he has been called.
II. DEFINITIONS
3.
Senior Associate: A priest who by age and experience is qualified to be a pastor, but who assists a pastor as a parochial vicar (cf. Canons 545-552).
4.
Senior Priest: A priest who has retirement status, but has opted for continued regular active ministry. He negotiates his ministerial involvement with the pastor of a parish, who then may provide him with residence and amenities. If the parish does not provide residence and amenities (e.g. when the Senior Priest provides his own residence), he is to be offered a suitable stipend for his ministerial involvement. The Senior Priest’s principal sources of income are his retirement pension and Social Security benefits.
5.
Retired Priest: A priest who has retirement status and has opted not to have continued regular active ministry. Although available for ministerial services as needed and able, he does not have regular ministerial involvement in any particular parish.
6.
Pastor Emeritus: An honorary title awarded at the discretion of the bishop to a priest upon his resignation as pastor (cf. Canon 185). A Pastor Emeritus need not reside in the parish from which he retires.