by Julie Sly | Catholic Herald of the Diocese of Sacramento (reprinted with permission)

The same stressors that affect parishioners can also be present in the life of a priest - such as anxiety, loneliness, compassion-fatigue and the demands of routinely re-establishing oneself in a new community - and may wear down a priest's well-being, says Fr. David Songy, OFMCap., a priest of the Capuchin Province of St. Conrad.

He is a clinical psychologist and president emeritus of Saint Luke Institute, a leading international center for priests, religious and laity which provides integrated psychological and spiritual treatment, consultation and education. Father David spoke at the recent diocesan priests’ study days, which had the theme, “Hope and Healing: Pastoral Care and Mental Health.” He addressed diocesan clergy about Catholic faith and mental health, and mental health for priests.

Father David is the author of “Spiritual Direction for Priestly Celibacy,” and a speaker for more than 20 years on topics
such as priestly spirituality, formation in priestly celibacy, and healthy sexual integration and affective maturity.

Prior to his work at Saint Luke Institute in Silver Spring, Maryland, he was the spiritual director and prefect of studies at
Redemptoris Mater Missionary Seminary in Denver, Colorado. He also was director of counseling services at the Pontifical
North American College in Rome from 2007 to 2010 and held several positions at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary
in Denver from 1999 to 2007, including director of formation and chair of the pastoral department.

While at St. Luke Institute, Father David treated priests and religious struggling with a variety of issues, including anxiety, addictions, depression, stress, burnout, substance abuse, boundary issues, interpersonal problems, sexual issues or other challenges.

Reflecting on his past years in various ministry assignments, he says that “caring for the spiritual and psychological needs
of seminarians, priests and religious has always been a privilege.”

Since 1985, according to Georgetown University researchers, the Catholic population in the nation has risen nearly 20 percent, but the number of priests has decreased from more than 57,000 to about 37,000, including some 25,700 diocesan priests and 11,600 religious-order priests. This means more work for priests, and more priests living alone rather than with fellow priests in parish rectories.

One growing problem, he said in an interview with Catholic Herald magazine, is that new priests are now often assigned as pastor of their own parish within three years, instead of 10 years or more as in the past, and can be ill-prepared to oversee finances and personnel, as well as pastoral duties.

“Some of the younger priests who would come to us (at Saint Luke) are overwhelmed and weren’t sure how to deal with things,” he says. “Some of the main issues are burnout, depression or compassion fatigue. These can be common because it’s extremely difficult when there are high expectations placed on them and they no longer live in a community where they might get support. Living alone in a rectory can be very isolating and can lead to mental health challenges.”

Many Catholics across the nation and specifically in the Diocese of Sacramento attend parishes in which one priest is serving multiple parish communities, each with its own traditions, culture and expectations. “Priests today minister in very challenging times,” he says, “and often they have parishioners coming to them and confiding their problems. That can be overwhelming, something we call compassion-fatigue.”

Father David notes that priests in U.S. dioceses are encouraged to have spiritual directors and take advantage of support and formation offerings such as retreats and gatherings, where they can talk about issues such as depression and addictions, or “weak boundaries” that can make it difficult to set limits and say no to others. “Sometimes these are realities that can exacerbate or mask mental health struggles,” he notes.

“A life of a priest means a life of change,” Father David notes, adding that “transition from crisis to stability is essential for health.” He says every priest should reflect on his own psychological, emotional and spiritual process of adapting to change. “To serve others, one must have a reservoir of strength, which comes from good self-care, and being disposed to the source of life in Jesus,” he says.

To maintain good mental health, Father David advises priests that taking time at the beginning of each day to orient oneself can contribute to feelings of stability and diminished stress.

Self-care, he notes, affects six key areas: physical health, emotional health, social support, ministerial environment, spiritual health, and leisure. He adds that ways priests can decrease stress include a familiar daily routine and a fixed prayer schedule; reducing unproductive thinking and excessive worry; finding consistent sources of interpersonal engagement and connecting with others; and cultivating a sense of accomplishment.

“Every priest who begins each day with a humble prayer, orienting himself to God’s will for the day, will realize in a deeper way the precious nature of his vocation,” he concludes.