Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 91 No. 3, 2021.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.53745/bs.91.3.7
The Wellbeing of Priests in the Time of COVID‑19 Illness Pandemics
Josip Bošnjaković
orcid.org/0000-0002-2324-8717
; Catholic Faculty of Theology in Đakovo, University of Josip Juraj Strossmayer, Đakovo, Croatia
Zbigniew Formella
; Pontifical Salesian University, Roma, Italia
Piotr Kwiatek
; Superior Theological Seminary of the Capuchins, Denver, US
Anna Pecoraro
; Divine Mercy University, Sterling, US
Anthony Isacco
; School of Health Sciences, Chatham University, Pittsburgh, US
Abstract
The priest also had to deal with a new way of living their own vocation and mission during the time of COVID‑19 illness pandemics, especially since their mission is most often realized through personal contact with people. The author takes into account the relation of priests towards others, towards themselves, and towards God. In the study that has been carried out from the end of November until the first half of December of 2020, 312 priests, religious order and diocesan priests, who live and work in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and a small number of those in other countries, took part. For the purposes of the study, questionnaires were used that were translated according to the new standards of translation and that measured the psychological wellbeing of priests, compassion, and compassion towards oneself. On the basis of that, an appropriate questionnaire was prepared for the purposes of this study that focused on the pastoral life of priests during the COVID‑19 illness pandemics. The majority of priests, more precisely 77%, stated that they used more time than usual for prayer, which is also related to a more significant personal growth and positive relationships with others. The priests who live in parishes that have less than 3000 inhabitants, however, faced financial difficulties. The study also marked that there were no significant differences in psychological wellbeing between diocesan priests and priests in religious orders, as well as between those priests who live alone and those who live in a community with other priests. The study did mark significant differences in the care for oneself among those priests who have been active in the office for more than twenty years and who show more awareness for the importance of caring for oneself. Finally, it has been shown that those priests who are more compassionate towards themselves, also exhibit a higher level of psychological wellbeing.
Keywords
compassion; compassion towards oneself; psychological wellbeing; pastoral challenges in the time of COVID‑19 illness pandemics.
Hrčak ID:
273600
URI
Publication date:
2.2.2022.
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