Snapshots of parish challenges

In “As I Have Done For You,” Los Angeles Cardinal Roger Mahony offers several “snapshots” concerning the growth of lay ministry and asks that parishes discuss them as a means of discerning “a strategy for reshaping ministerial structures in more appropriate ways.” A sampling of Mahony’s snapshots:

• A 56-year-old sister has been the director of religious education in her parish for 13 years. Over the last year, tensions between herself and the pastor have been mounting. These tensions are brought to a head when a first-year seminarian, 30 years old, is assigned to help out in the parish as part of his seminary formation. The pastor is “all aglow with excitement and enthusiasm,” referring to the seminarian as “the hope for the future of the church.” The DRE feels resentful because the pastor has made a “big scene,” “falling all over the seminarian.” Do you have any advice for her? For the pastor?
• The pastor and priest associate of a large parish are both on the verge of burnout. The pastor hires a parish business manager and asks the bishop for the appointment of a lay pastoral associate. The latter takes up several tasks often associated with the priesthood. But the parishioners want personal contact with a priest in such circumstances. Discuss various strategies for facing the ministerial challenges in this scenario.
• A laywoman feels called to lay ecclesial ministry but cannot afford to live on a “church salary.” How to proceed?
• The Guadalupanas have gathered at the parish church on Thursday evenings for years, followed by a meeting with the parish priest to discuss their various apostolic works. The new pastor informs them that he is unable to join them. The Guadalupanas feel abandoned. More important, they are reluctant to meet without the presence of a priest, because of their commonly held conviction that they cannot make decisions affecting the life of anyone in the parish without his approval. Any advice?