Column: No one is immune to life's challenges

By DAWN PROSSER
Director of Communications
 
Losing a loved one is extremely difficult. Losing someone to suicide compounds the grief and shock of those left behind.
 
The Centers for Disease Control and prevention reported that suicide rates in the United States reached peak levels in 2018 and 2022. The most recent data shows over 49,000 annual suicide deaths - one every 11 minutes. It is the fifth leading cause of death among individuals between 35 and 44 years of age.
 
In a Lumen Media article from October 2024, Amy Bloch of Catholic Charities noted that mental illness rates in children are increasing and suicide is the second leading cause of death among children as young as six years old.
 
The USCCB launched their National Catholic Mental Health campaign in 2023 to respond to the national health crisis in hopes of eliminating stigmas “and seek creative ways to journey with those who struggle.”
 
Imagine an educated and intelligent man in charge of a large non-profit agency juggling the responsibilities of his position who dies by suicide. Imagine that man is your parish priest.
 
Cruxnow.com posted in November 2024, “Brazil clergy see synodality as possible antidote to priest suicides.” The article noted that Brazilian priests were looking at the causes as the rate of suicide was much higher than the general population. A priest researching the data reported 40 priest suicides in Brazil from August 2016 to June 2023 – almost four times higher than the Brazilian national average of deaths by suicide.
 
In 2017, there were multiple articles published about alarmingly high rates of suicide amongst Irish priests. The Irish Times noted eight priests died by suicide over a 10-year span. News outlets noted the priests struggled with “isolation, dropping income, an increasing workload, mental health issues and an overriding sense of futility.”
 
United States’ Catholic priests are not immune to deep mental health concerns that are present in other parts of the world.
 
A 49-year-old Diocese of Baton Rouge priest took his own life. Bishop Michael Duca reached out to the faithful regarding the shocking death, urging those who are feeling overwhelmed to seek help.
 
Catholic diocesan news outlets shared similar tragic stories of priests in Massachusetts and Missouri who died by suicide.
 
As close as Cedar Rapids, a young pastor in the Archdiocese of Dubuque took his own life Nov. 26, 2024, at the age of 33. He attended seminary with one of our diocesan pastors, who was understandably troubled by his friend’s suicide. The tragic death of the priest was widely shared in secular and Catholic media as well as social media.
 
Dubuque Archbishop Thomas Zinkula asked for prayers for the priest, his family, parishioners and “all those who struggle with mental health concerns.” He also directed people to reach out for help including the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
 
The Catholic bishops recognize the stressors affecting priests. A roundtable discussion – Mental Health and the Clergy - was shared less than a year ago on the USCCB YouTube channel. Panelists included Dallas Bishop Edward Burns, Catholic mental health therapists and clergy.
 
“I’m seeing hardworking priests who exhaust themselves for Jesus Christ. It’s amazing how they give and give of themselves,” said Bishop Burns.
 
Today’s Catholic priests often are living alone and potentially isolated, which doesn’t lend to self-care, Father James Garvey of the St. Luke Institute pointed out during the discussion. It was noted during the roundtable that priests often put themselves last and are subject to burnout, anxiety, depression and perfectionism.
 
Dr. Jim Langley, cofounder of St. Raphael Counseling and the Shepherd’s Renewal, a ministry “dedicated to supporting the health, happiness and continued holiness of priests,” wrote in the Archdiocese of Denver magazine about the challenges facing today’s priests.
 
Discouragement, increasing responsibilities and trying to “stay grounded in the spiritual life” so that they can serve others were common challenges Dr. Langley encounters with priests he treats. Ministering in an increasingly secular world is very discouraging for priests trying to share the Gospel message.
 
In the March-April 2024 Shifting Landscape series in The Lumen, we explored how the shifting demographics of the diocese affect priests in the Diocese of Sioux City, including experiencing isolation and the stress of taking on multiple parishes among other issues.
 
As the faithful who treasure our priests and pastors and their care for our spiritual well-being, we should be concerned for their well-being. Bloch suggested in an April 2024 interview with Lumen Media that we take a step back and remember that our priests are human and they experience challenges and anxiety just like their parishioners.
 
“I think sometimes we forget that they experience stress,” she said.
 
When is the last time you said something kind to your priest? Bloch offered simple suggestions that can make an impact include offering your gratitude to your priest, sending a note of thanks and support and assuring them of your prayers. Do pray for your parish priest.
Several parishes have a Seven Sisters Apostolate effort where the faithful commit to offer a holy hour each week for their priests “to strengthen the church.” (Learn more at www.sevensistersapostolate.org.)
 
I guarantee your kindness and your prayers will be appreciated by the priests who serve us.
 
“There can be no Eucharist without the priesthood, just as there can be no priesthood without the Eucharist.” (Pope St. John Paul II, Gift and Mystery: On the 50th Anniversary of My Priestly Ordination, New York, 1996, pp. 77–78)