A Pastor's Challenge: Parish Leadership in an Age of Division, Doubt, and Spiritual Hunger

by George Anthony Kelly

What makes a good priest?How can you become a better priest?What is the role of the priest in today's Church? A Pastor's Leadership in an Age of Division, Doubt, and Spiritual Hunger is written about priests, for priests, by a priest.  In this much-needed book, Monsignor George Kelly takes an in-depth look at the Church's first officers.   A priest himself for more than fifty years, Monsignor Kelly outlines what is necessary for true priestly identity, noting that Parochial life...is still the rock on which the Church is built....  It is the outstanding parish priests who create and maintain the Catholic community. Monsignor Kelly's work is a realistic look at the difficulties and rewards inherent in the priesthood. Combining both careful research and the firsthand experience of a long-time pastor, A Pastor's Challenge reaffirms the value of priestly leadership for the entire Church.  This is an excellent book for anyone wanting an inside look at the role of pastors, past, present, and future. The human test for any shepherd is a simple   Is the parish better off, does he leave his flock better Christians, for his being there?

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[leo Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must Read for Church Laity Volunteers. A Pastors Challenge brings out the past, regarding what priests were expected, and Allowed inside their own Parish.
Being a man of the cloth…it’s not easy.
Compares the challenges of a priest, to a person in the business world. Smile, treat people with respect, admit when you’re wrong. Your life will go much easier.
Parishioners should not constantly judge the decisions of the pastor. There are many real life examples in this book.
I would definitely recommend this book.