Associate Priests & Pastoral Formation - Fr. Michael Rubeling | Ep. 92 | Ron Huntley Leadership Podcast

Newly ordained priests are leaving the seminary formed with perspectives and hopes that may not be in keeping with the pastor or parish they are placed in. This time of learning & formation prepares them for & alleviates some challenges, but there is often still a tension between that time of formation and preparation for the realities of ministry.

They're ready for the priesthood, but can be set up to fail from the beginning because many are not ready for what it means to be an associate pastor. They might have gone through post-seminary formation, but that's often different from the formation needed for their new role. Is there a better way of getting them ready and providing support in this stage of their formation?

In this episode, I'm joined by Fr. Michael Rubeling, who shares his own thoughts and insights based on his experiences as an associate priest for six years with three pastor assignments under his belt. We discuss trends we've seen, the negative impacts of getting these things wrong, and ways to invest in pastoral formation and leadership development in the associate role!