Retirement from Administration But Not from Ministry

Editors’ Note: This piece originally appeared in The Tablet in February 2024.

At the age of seventy-five, bishops are mandated to submit their letter of resignation from administration directly to the Holy Father in Rome. For several years prior to sending my letter, I dreaded the thought. What would life be like without any administrative duties? How would I use my time? The fear of the unknown was abated by participating in a workshop entitled: Encore Priests, which prepares priests (and bishops) for this transition. I was quickly reminded that by the nature of the sacrament of Holy Orders, priests and bishops always have some form of ministry. The workshop, given by Dr. Richard Johnson, helped me to plan for a retirement that is meaningful and vital. The wise advice of one of our senior priests, Msgr. Bob Pawson, also stays with me: “Keep busy!”

Thank God, I’ve been blessed with the health and energy to experience a joy-filled and rewarding retirement these last few years. Continuing sacramental ministry is at the heart of our priestly existence in retirement. I am abundantly blessed that Confirmations, parish visits, and other diocesan celebrations complement that ministry as a bishop.

But God, who in His wisdom, still has a plan for all of us has opened some new opportunities to experience: parish missions, retreat days, being available to offering counsel to priests, more time to visit the sick, traveling to be with family, being a fill-in/substitute in parishes where priests are sick, on vacation, or not replaced and now finally, having the opportunity to advise the clergy who near retirement. Besides “keeping busy,” the wisdom I can now share is the need to be truly open to what God has in store for those who are getting ready to enter this new stage. The retirement experience is certainly a new chapter of life. Even though we think we might have a plan, it is so necessary to discern daily what God has in His mind.

To anyone, clergy or lay faithful, who might be fearful of retirement, I would offer them some simple advice: don’t try to figure it out ahead of time. Just let God’s plan unfold. Be open to the surprises that are hidden from us. As priests hear at our priestly ordination, “May God who has begun the good work in you bring it to fulfillment.” To sum it up, enjoy each day and don’t make God laugh too much by telling Him your plan for retirement. Rather, ask Him to reveal His plan to you and He will. In the busiest days of His ministry, Jesus took quiet time for prayer. In our quiet time for prayer, we learn from the Master. Listen and learn well!