ST. MEINRAD, Ind. — Ask Catholic laypeople what they want and need from their priests, and you are likely to get varied responses.

They want their priests to be spiritual leaders; to be available to people; to have a love of Christ and a caring for all people. And they want them to be personable and welcoming.

A variety of responses also are likely if you ask people about specific behaviors, skills and ministries they expect of priests.

They expect their priests to love their jobs; to lead ministries founded on prayer; to give good homilies; to be involved in religious formation of children and adults; to teach Catholic beliefs; to be a part of the parish in which they serve; to be understanding; and to have good leadership and communication skills.

These were some of the responses laypeople in the Archdiocese of Louisville gave in an informal survey conducted for the annual archdiocesan Presbyteral Assembly attended by about 120 priests June 5-8 at St. Meinrad Archabbey in Southern Indiana. The survey was conducted by Cathy Schneider, a parishioner at Holy Trinity Church, and Art Turner, pastoral associate at St. Stephen Martyr Church.

Schneider and Turner presented the survey’s findings to priests during the assembly on June 7. Turner said more than 100 people responded by e-mail, letters and phone calls to three questions asked on the survey.

“Catholics across the spectrum” in urban and rural communities in the archdiocese responded, Turner said. They received responses from teachers, accountants, business leaders, parish staff members, young mothers, parents and parish volunteers.

The three questions asked were:

• “What do you want and need from your priests?”
• “Do you have specific behaviors, skills and ministry expectations of the priests of the archdiocese that you would like to share?”
• “Do you have a story to share about a priest who moved you and inspired your faith?”

Regarding what people want and need from priests, Schneider said the No. 1 answer given was being “a spiritual leader.”

“People like to see your spiritual side,” such as seeing the priest at prayer, she reported to priests at the assembly. “Many people thought being rounded in prayer and the love of God’s message of the good news was the most important thing.”

Also important is the priest being available to people, including visiting the sick, homebound and nursing home residents, Schneider said. “Everyone appreciated a priest who is easy to approach and is there for them in good times and bad. Being with them on their spiritual walk was very important.”

With availability being important, Schneider noted, people realized priests can only be available to minister if they turn over administrative responsibilities in a parish to others, such as lay people.

One person wrote: “The archdiocese needs to employ laypeople ... to run the administrative part of the job and let our priests be our priests, our spiritual mentors, our teachers, our guides to the kingdom of heaven. They (priests) need to be CEOs, that is, Christ’s Employees Only.”

Another want and need mentioned was having a “love of Christ first and foremost” and “a genuine caring for all people, both inside and outside the church,” Turner said. “They (people) wanted more focus on the poor and wanted you (priests) to encourage us to do so as well.”

Also important to people is for a priest to be personable, Turner said. “People really appreciate when you know their name and make them feel welcome and included.”

The survey also showed the need for priests “to have respect” for the people they work with and the staff, Turner said. “As lay volunteers, they want to be treated like a person on your team, being reminded of their gifts and talents and calling them to better service alongside of you.”

Regarding the question about behaviors, skills and ministry expected of priests, Schneider reported: People “would like a priest to love his job. Many people put that as their top behavior.”

Many also wanted priests to have “a strong prayer life,” she said. People want “ministries founded on prayer” as well as priests encouraging them to pray more.

Schneider said “strong homilies that are relevant to everyday life was a popular response” in the survey. She quoted comments by two people:

• “Please don’t water down the Catholic teachings just to please people or avoid hurt feelings. Preach the truth.”
• “A good priest teaches the Catholic faith and traditions of the church.”

People also want their priests to be involved in religious education “in some form” for children and adults, Schneider reported.

One person wrote: “What the world and media tell us are important and good are not the high road in life. We need priests to challenge the world view and help us to follow a life of value that is contrary to the values of what society teaches and wants us to do.”

Schneider reported that survey respondents wanted to “hear pro-life messages from the pulpit,” and Turner said another request was for priests to use the pulpit “to teach us our Catholic beliefs.”

Turner also reported other responses:

• People want the priest to be part of the parish. “They don’t like to feel this is just your job (but) that you are truly connected to them.”
• Several people mentioned the need for priests to be understanding. One person said: “Be understanding because a non-understanding priest can create bitterness toward the church.”
• Specific skills “mentioned over and over again were strong leadership skills and excellent communication skills.”

Schneider reported that in spite of the recent clergy sexual abuse issue, “it came across loud and clear that people ... really want you (priests) involved with our children.”

One person said: “Involvement in the youth group is essential; they are our future, strong active Catholics for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. If the only time they see the priest is at Mass, they have no connection to person behind the vocation.”

Another remarked: “We need to look to our priests to help create an environment where the children are raised to want to be part of the church.”

Several people also noted the implications of fewer numbers of priests, Schneider reported. She quoted comments by two people:

• One person said: “We all need to do God’s work together. God is not expecting any more of you (priests) than you can do. He has sent gifted people to help you. ... Let us work with you to bring about God’s plan in our little section of the world.”
• Another respondent said the service of priests today is “best directed” to three areas: sacraments, parish school and fostering vocations.