“For me, I find it rather unfair that these priests are taken away from their families and are unable to serve them in the course of their lifetime, and return them later when they become old or ill,” Cortes said. “It is actually one of the responsibilities of the bishop to give assurance to the priests that even in their old age or when they get sick, they are taken care of and will not be abandoned.”
He said it would take about a year to prepare the project, which includes an initial 20 rooms to accommodate not only aged or sick clergy, but nuns who are to take care of them, as well as transient priests staying for a day or two, or those wanting to have a retreat or recollection.
Aside from the retirement home that is designed to be user friendly for the old and sick priests and even those with disabilities, such as those on wheelchairs, the diocese is also looking at building a cemetery for the clergy in the seminary complex, Cortes said.
This will help the priests, whether in active ministry or during illness, to prepare them for eternal life and not to worry about their future as it is a common insecurity with the clergy when they grow old, he added.
Cortes expressed gratitude that there are very generous people assisting the diocese to make this dream a reality.
There are at least eight priests now in the diocese that are sick, getting old and incapacitated, he pointed out.
But Cortes explained that his principle for the clergy that he shared with them is that “there is no retirement in the service of the Lord.”
Even if they reach 65, supposedly the age of retirement, but is still capable, then his challenge to the priests is for them to still serve at the parishes as residents but with less responsibility and little activity, he added.
The location of the home for the aged and sick priests is also ideal as it is right next door to the seminary, where the seminarians can interact with them. Cortes said the retirement home will be run by the religious, but he said he will look for a congregation of nuns to take on such responsibility. (PNA)
