Seminary

[DeLores]

I haven't been on this list very long and am curious about Catholic
priests who have married, Rev. Jim. Which seminary did you attend and
are you pastoring a congregation? If not, have you pastored one in
your city in the past? I was wondering what their attitude has been to
your ongoing battle with the city government. Also, how did they deal
with your disabilities? What types of adaptations have they and you
made in order to continue as a minister?
DeLores

[Rev. Jim Sutter]

Hi, Delores. I began as a lay minister in the Roman Catholic Church in
December 1988. I continued lay ministry as Lector, Commentator and
Eucharistic Minister while I studied for a relatively new Jesuit program
headquartered in CA. I attended classes at Borromeo Seminary here in
Cleveland, but the bulk of my studies were done at home, with reports, tests
and thesis sent and graded by mail to the HQ in CA. I was finally ordained
in a recently created position of Catholic Minister in December, 1994.

Catholic Ministers are a new program begun by the Jesuits in response to the
critical shortage of priests in recent years. For example, my cousin was
ordained at Borromeo in 1972, as one of about 200 new priests in his class.
Last year, * 2 * new priests were ordained from Borromeo.

A Catholic Minister can do everything a priest can do, and is higher than a
Deacon, but just a smidgen lower than a priest. We can baptize, preside at
First Communion, Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession), Marriages, general
Communion, Viaticum, Extreme Unction, general Mass and funerals. My first
"official" function after my ordination was to preside at the funeral of my
best friend - not an auspicious beginning.

I am assigned as a Catholic Chaplain at St. John's Westshore Hospital, the
Cleveland Clinic and Lakewood Hospital. I also am one of the Catholic
Chaplains at Lorain County Jail. I am also the Chaplain for a national
advocacy group - The American Association of Disabled Persons. All this
while I also attend continuing education. The job comes with a salary, but I
refused it, as I believe this is my Calling from God, and I won't take money
to do God's work. I rely on my SSDI (for what little that's worth).

Currently there are about 10,000 ordained Catholic Ministers worldwide. It
is my great privilege to be one of them. Ministers in this program can be
married and have children, but if their spouse dies, they cannot remarry.
Originally I applied for the Deaconatte program, but was denied due to my
disabilities - the Catholic Church is unfortunately about a century behind
the times with their treatment of the disabled as part of the Religious
community.

Anyway, I am also licensed by the State of Ohio, have a special parking
permit pretty much allowing me to park anywhere if on ministry business, and
sometimes get some discounts. For instance, when I am ministering at the
Cleveland Clinic, I don't have to pay the $10.75 for parking in their garage.

If you have any more question, please feel free to ask. Rev Jim Sutter