The Diocese of Phoenix announced a new role established to support the human, spiritual, physical and emotional wellbeing of priests — the vicar for priestly life and ministry.
After more than 13 years as pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish (OLPH) in Scottsdale, Ariz., Fr. Greg Schlarb will step into the position on July 1, and he will work in tandem with Auxiliary Bishop Peter Dai Bui, who currently serves as the vicar for clergy. While Bishop Bui’s role focuses on practical support for priests such as priestly assignments, day-to-day personnel management and support when problems arise, the new role will take on a more proactive and personal approach.
“The vicar for priestly life and ministry will walk with priests, listen to them, ask them questions and seek to understand any challenges they may be facing,” said Bishop John Dolan.
The new role was established to encourage priests, as well as to foster a deeper fraternity with Bishop Dolan and the hundreds of other priests in the diocese.
“Visits from Fr. Schlarb will revolve around questions that are simple, but some of the most important: How are you doing? How can we help you excel? How can we make sure you’re doing well?” Bishop Dolan continued.
Fr. Schlarb looks forward to putting almost 30 years of parish life experience into this new role. He will place a particular emphasis on accompaniment, spending time in conversation and listening.
“As the vicar for priestly life and ministry, I’m there to serve [our priests], be with them, to help them, to encourage them. And really to love them … I [consider] all of them part of my new community that I am going to be focused on first and foremost,” said Fr. Schlarb, who will celebrate his last Mass as pastor of OLPH on Sunday, June 28.
“They are my priority”
–
Watch a special episode of “TILMA” below, where Bishop John Dolan, Auxiliary Bishop Peter Dai Bui and Fr. Greg Schlarb delve into the new vicar for priestly life and ministry role:
