One Parish, 42,000 People

My parish covers a whole county of 42,000 inhabitants scattered over 19 towns and many individual farms. How long it takes for the shepherd to get to know his sheep! Those farthest away need eight to nine hours to get to church. Only when there will be more churches and smaller parishes will real ministry be possible. However, the people are mighty glad that there now is worship every Sunday, whereas only a few years ago it did not occur more often than every other week. Yet, priests are lacking, self-sacrificing priests, who would come here only in order to win souls. There would be plenty of work for them everywhere and they would reap the richest reward in most blessed success.

—From Boniface Wimmer, Abbot of Saint Vincent in Pennsylvania, translated by Dr. Maria Von Mickwitz and Father Warren Murrman, O.S.B., editor.