Diocesan Priests in Sierra Leone Urged to Pay Attention to Emotional Wellbeing amid Unavoidable Distress

Some 24 Diocesan Priest attended the event that was also graced by Freetown’s Local Ordinary, Archbishop Edward Tamba Charles.

Participants at the workshop explores many topics, including, the identity of the priesthood, the emotional and psychological toll of being a priest in a contemporary society, physical wellbeing of priests for effectiveness in ministry, as well as the emotional and psychological challenge of celibacy in the contemporary world.

Facilitating the workshop was Eddie John Bull, one of the consultants for Caritas Freetown, who spoke about “the burden” that priesthood carries.

Bull said that embodying Christ is a “profound responsibility” of every Catholic Priest.

“By virtue of ordination, Catholic priests serve in persona Christi. That is to say, in the person of Christ, often described also as Alter Christus or ‘Another Christ’. This means that in their ministry—celebrating sacraments, preaching, and pastoral care—they are called to represent Christ Himself to the faithful,” Mr. Bull explained, and added, “This identity requires Priests not only to perform religious duties but to imitate Christ’s love, humility, sacrifice, and compassion in their daily lives.”

“The burden and emotional toll of a Catholic priest as the living embodiment of Christ is profound and multifaceted, reflecting the deep spiritual, psychological, and social demands associated with this sacred identity and ministry,” he said.

In his presentation, the consultant for Caritas Freetown explored various emotional and psychological burdens arising from the priestly ministry. 

He said that Catholic Priests bear other’s suffering, experience loneliness and isolation, and grapple with burnout and emotional exhaustion especially in ministries where they are few, tending to a large flock.

“Priests share in the joys and sorrows of their parishioners, often absorbing intense emotional pain,” he said, and added, “Pope Francis highlights that genuinely pastoral ministry means "suffering with" the people, which can lead to a "heart broken into a thousand little pieces" from empathy and compassion.”

“This deep emotional involvement can be exhausting and emotionally draining,” he said.

Bull said that in some missions, Priests suffer from “chronic” emotional stress from constant caregiving, and sometimes, high expectations.

“Priests must manage complex roles including spiritual leader, counselor, manager, and face interpersonal conflicts, societal pressures, and sometimes scandal fallout,” he said, adding that such ongoing strain depletes Priests emotional and psychosocial reserves. 

In the interview with ACI Africa on July 30, Fr. Konteh who ensures the welfare of Diocesan Priests in Sierra Leonean the need for his confreres to take part in fraternal meetings and gatherings so as to lessen their emotional burdens.

The July 30-31 event in the Archdiocese of Freetown was part of an ongoing two-year program aimed at strengthening the capacity of local Catholic Priests in Sierra Leone as agents of conflict management, peace building and national cohesion.

The country’s other Dioceses, Bo, Kenema, and Makeni have already conducted similar workshops in the program that is being funded by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) Germany.

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The idea is to equip the 150 local Catholic Priests in Sierra Leone, and some 400 Diocesan Personnel with skills for conflict resolution and safeguarding.

One of the biggest conflicts that has confronted Catholic Priesthood in Sierra Leone was when Rome made the first attempt to nominate a priest of the Diocese of Kenema in the Eastern Region as Bishop of the Diocese of Makeni in the Northern Region in January 2012. 

The reactions to the announcement were violent rejection by Priests in the Makeni Diocese (based on the ethnic and regional background of Bishop-elect). 

The rejection of a Bishop-elect, Fr. Konteh says, has led to “a decade of ethnic and regional divisions within the priesthood in Sierra Leone.

“The long-term impact of an ethnically divided priesthood cannot be emphasized, as this erodes the unity of the church and paves way for decline of not only the priesthood but a decline in the catholic church in the country,” Fr. Konteh said in a concept not he shared with ACN Germany for funding. 

He underscored the need for Catholic Priests in Sierra Leone to undergo a series of reflections to heal and reconcile with one another. 

The member of Clergy of the Archdiocese of Freetown said, “No lasting social transformation takes place within society if Priests themselves are not living testimonies and witness to personal conversion as bearers of peace.”