Who Is My Pastor Now? Understanding the In Solidum Priesthood in the Family of Parishes Era

By Fr. Jaime
Priest in Solidum, Family of Parishes: Unleashed Disciples

“Who’s my pastor now?”
It’s a question quietly whispered in pews and sacristies alike across dioceses embracing the new Family of Parishesmodel. And behind that question lies a real concern — a mixture of uncertainty, memory, and love for what parish life once was.

In particular, many faithful (and even clergy) are trying to grasp a term that feels more legal than pastoral: priest in solidum.

Let’s break it open — canonically, spiritually, and practically — and rediscover what this model actually means, and why it may be one of the most promising developments in parish life since Vatican II.

What Does “In Solidum” Mean?

In Canon Law, in solidum refers to a specific form of parish leadership described in Canon 517 §1:

“Where circumstances so require, the pastoral care of a parish or of several parishes together can be entrusted to several priests in solidum, with the requirement, however, that one of them must be the moderator of the exercise of pastoral care.”

The phrase in solidum is Latin for “jointly and equally responsible.” In this structure, a team of priests is entrusted with the care of a group of parishes. Each priest is responsible not just for one parish, but for the whole family — together.

One priest is named moderator to coordinate the team and ensure accountability. But unlike the traditional model of “one pastor per parish,” in solidum means that all priests truly share the mission. The faithful are no longer “assigned” to one priest — they are served by a communion of priests.

Why Change? Why Now?

Let’s be honest. Many people assume this model is just a response to the priest shortage. But that’s a surface-level reading.

Yes, the number of priests is lower than it once was. But this shift is not merely pragmatic — it’s pastoral, spiritual, and missional.

As Archbishop Allen Vigneron writes in his pastoral note No Second Tunic:

“What served the mission in the past may not serve the mission now.”

And more pointedly:

“We need to resist the temptation to nostalgia, to hold on to what is familiar at the expense of fruitfulness.”

The in solidum model invites us into something more apostolic — more like the early Church. It reflects a Spirit-led renewal that calls us beyond individualism, into shared discernment and shared service.

A Change in Culture, Not Just Structure

Here’s the real challenge: it’s not just a change in administration — it’s a change in imagination.

For decades, in the U.S. Church, the term “pastor” wasn’t just a title. It carried deep emotional and spiritual weight. It meant, “That’s the priest who baptized my child… heard my confession… buried my grandmother… showed up when it mattered.”

Now, people wonder: If no priest is “my” pastor, who do I turn to?

This sense of loss is real. It deserves to be named, not dismissed.

But here’s the other side of the coin: we are being invited to discover something more beautiful. As Archbishop Vigneron puts it:

“Pruning can be painful, but it makes room for greater growth.”

Instead of one priest carrying the full burden of ministry, a team can specialize, support each other, and offer greater availability across more communities. Each priest brings different charisms — teaching, evangelizing, shepherding — and the faithful benefit from all of them.

The Role of the Moderator

The moderator isn’t “the boss.” He is more like the coordinator of a symphony. He ensures harmony. He handles certain juridical and administrative responsibilities. But he is not “over” the others.

The beauty of the model is that no one is left alone — not the priests, and not the people.

The Church’s Vision of Shared Priesthood

This is not a committee. It is communion. It reflects the theology of presbyteral unity rooted in the early Church, where apostles and elders ministered together, guided by the Spirit.

As Pope St. John Paul II preached on the Ascension:

“Christ is no longer visible to the eyes of the flesh, but He is present to the eyes of the heart. He is with us, inside us, all days, until the end of the world.”

And now, His presence is made visible through a Church that leads as a body, not as lone individuals.

The Benefits — and the Cost

Let’s not sugarcoat it. This model requires sacrifice:

• Priests must set aside solo leadership for shared discernment.
• Parishioners must expand their trust beyond one familiar face.
• Communities must grow from comfort to collaboration.

But the fruit is real:

• More presence at more liturgies.
• More availability for sacraments.
• More creativity in evangelization.
• Deeper fraternity among priests.
• A shared sense of mission among the faithful.

As Archbishop Vigneron writes:

“The Family of Parishes structure is not an emergency response, but a Spirit-led development in our missionary identity.”

Final Word: Who Is My Pastor Now?

You may still be asking: Who is my pastor now?

Here’s the answer:
You have more than one.
You have a team.
You have a communion of priests — called together, sent together, serving together.

And behind them is the Church — not frozen in the past, but alive with the Spirit — ready to go forth and make disciples.