Leading in
troubled times

By Diane Prokop
Northeast Times

For as far back as he can remember, the Reverend Monsignor Joseph Prior, recalls seeing his father on his knees praying every night before he went to bed.
"It wasn’t something he did for show, it was just something I’d catch if I walked by his door," Prior said.
That and his late mother’s example of daily Mass during Lent, his parents’ relationship with the Lord and their love for one another, had a big impact on the boy from Morrell Avenue, who would grow up to be the rector of St. Charles Seminary in Overbrook.
While he had thoughts about the priesthood at different times growing up, Priors’ parents, however, never pushed him toward the priesthood.
"Growing up different times I thought about it, had fleeting thoughts," he said.
The priests at his home parish of Christ the King also encouraged his vocation.
"In those days our priests had sole responsibility for Frankford Hospital and would get up all hours of the night. They gave great witness and were a big influence. The thought got stronger and stronger," he said.
Prior entered the seminary right after graduating from Archbishop Ryan in 1982.
When asked if he ever thought back then that 25 years later he would be leading the seminary he said, "No way."
Still, from the beginning it seemed as if Prior, now 44, was being groomed for leadership in the church. Ordained in 1990, he served as an associate pastor at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Southampton for two years, and taught for a year at the now defunct St. James High School in Chester.
Soon after he was sent to Rome, where he studied for six years, earning his licentiate (a European degree somewhere equivalent to a Masters) in Sacred Scripture at the Pontifical Biblical Institute and a Doctorate in Biblical Theology at the Gregorian Institute.
Prior also got to spend a semester at Hebrew University of Jerusalem while studying for his degree in scripture. There he studied biblical history, Hebrew history and archaeology and for three weeks toured Old Testament and New Testament sites.
"It’s our roots, it’s where we come from as Christians…We come from the same line," he said of the relationship between Judaism and Christianity.
He was also in Israel when the country made peace with Jordan on October 26, 1994.
The Northeast Philly native was a witness to history in other ways as well, having had the opportunity to concelebrate Mass in a small private chapel with the late Pope John Paul II on several occasions. His parents, aunt and uncle, as well as another couple from the Northeast were able to participate in one of those Masses as well.
Prior’s face lit up when he spoke of that time. He also recalled when the beloved pontiff first came to the United States.
"I was a freshman (at Archbishop Ryan) when he came to the U.S. I remember from that talk he gave, what struck me was he kept saying, ‘look to Christ,’ sort of like a mantra. I’m sure that had an influence on me," he said.
In 1999, he completed his doctoral and was assigned to the faculty of the seminary full time. Previously he taught night school at the seminary to undergraduates when he was home.
Founded in 1832 by Bishop Francis Kenrick, the seminary is recognized as one of the top theological institutes in the nation and the world. It provides a complete formation program on both the college and theology levels, with seminarians representing 24 archdioceses, dioceses, and other religious communities.
From 2000 to 2002 Prior served as the academic dean of the theology division. From 2002 until he was appointed rector in 2004, he served as the seminary’s chief academic officer.
Just one year later, the Philadelphia Grand Jury Report documenting the sexual abuse of hundreds of children over the years by at least 63 named archdiocesan priests rocked the archdiocese, its parishioners, its good priests, and its seminarians.
The seminarians "reaction was as in all of us – we’re shocked at the scandal and the hurt that was caused," Prior said.
His position as rector bears great responsibility in as "much of the future of the Catholic Church passes through the front doors" of the seminary.
According to Prior, the seminarians are assured of support and encouragement for their vocation. Before the Philadelphia scandal broke, seminarians there from Boston endured the same emotions.
"Looking ahead they are part of the solution. They felt that, too. They want to be good men and holy priests and want to do it completely and as best they can to heal any of the hurts. Ninety-seven percent of priests have never been involved. What do we do now? Prevention and healing," Prior said.
Incoming candidates go through extensive interviews where they are asked about their likes, dislikes, their emotions and how they respond to their emotions.
"We focus on human formation, some of the hallmarks on how they understand themselves, who they are, and how God has created them," Prior said, stressing the importance of self-understanding and emotional maturity.
Each seminarian has both a spiritual director, as well as an advisor that walks them through the formation process, affirms them in what they are doing well and challenges them on what they need to do.
"The human and spiritual really work together," Prior said.
The archdiocese held the Witness to the Sorrow event at the seminary, where priests and seminarians listened to the stories of victims of clergy sexual abuse.
Seminarians also attend formation conferences where speakers focus on important topics, such as the value of celibacy, an effective maturity, areas of prevention and healing – the ministry aspect to help victims of sexual abuse
"There are common threads all victims go through, they are walked through what to do," he said.
Two other Northeast Philadelphia men are among the 150 men guided by Prior at the seminary these days.
Originally from Tacony’s Our Lady of Consolation parish, Michael Speziale was to be ordained a transitional deacon on May 10 and is expected to be ordained a priest in May 2009.
Robert Ianelli, who hails from St. Timothy’s in Mayfair, will enter the theology division of the seminary in the fall.
This year there will be 12 priests and 22 deacons ordained including three priests and six deacons from the Philadelphia archdiocese.
How long Prior serves as rector or if he’ll be moved up to increased leadership in the church is yet to be determined.
"I serve at the Cardinal’s pleasure, wherever, he needs me that’s where I’ll be. It’s a freeing thing, to go where you’re needed," he said.
Reporter Diane Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dprokop@phillynews.com