Seminary Director of Counseling Services Sees Change as Priests Prioritize Mental Health – Newsroom | University of St. Thomas

Saint Paul Seminary director of counseling services and associate director of human formation Paul Ruff says he has “the best seat in the house” when it comes to developing and post-ordination priests. .

At the beginning of the 30 days of priestly renewal this summer, seminary director of counseling services Paul Ruff asked the 12 men in attendance how they were doing so far.

One of them admitted: “I am worried. I’m a bit scared.

“Why?” asked Ruff, who is also the assistant director of humanities at the seminary.

“Because I’m not used to being so vulnerable with my brother.”

Ruff says that line between beauty and danger, is where true human growth occurs.

The 68-year-old Twin Cities native is a professional. As a licensed psychologist, he has spent decades helping people — most recently, students and pastors — overcome the mental health problems that are now prevalent in the US.

He saw the new generation of priests receiving things like counselling, health training and deep retreats, not only for themselves, but also for the members of their parish.

“For any of us, to say ‘I’m weak, and I need help, there’s an inherent stigma of pride in me, in you, in any of us sometimes,'” Ruff said. . But I think that the fact that (fellow priests) will continue to make me angry, I think it is over.”

That’s why about a dozen local priests participate in counseling with Ruff and his team of psychologists at Saint Paul Seminary. That’s why so many people show up for Institute for Ongoing Clergy Formation events and hear Ruff talk about the importance of the priesthood and tips for prioritizing priestly health.

And that’s why the institution hopes to repeat the priestly retreat, which gave shepherds from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and the Diocese of Winona-Rochester a month of deep, fruitful growth and spiritual growth. Ruff said he has spoken to other diocese leaders who want the same thing for their priests from time to time.

According to the National Institutes of Health, one in six Americans lives with some form of mental illness. Whether a parish priest is found, there is a high risk of depression and burnout – priests risk leading a life of confusion, isolation and turning to unhealthy ways of to deal with this problem.

It could be the cause of such horrible things as the clerical abuse scandal that rocked the US Church.

But Ruff sees the tide turning.

Ruff said: “I’m under no illusions that we’re there, but it seems like we’re paying attention in the right direction, and we’re willing to learn as we go.”

That doesn’t just mean that priests show up for counseling every week or month. A person is not meant to be alone, and diocesan priests are also like that.

It is often the isolation that can have the most negative effects. That’s why Ruff is a big advocate of priests living in the community.

“If (continuing formation work) doesn’t increase presbyteral membership, don’t do it,” Ruff says.

In a tradition that began following instructions from St. John Paul II, higher seminaries implemented strong formation efforts – including mental health services for men who identify as priests. There is a strong caveat, however, that this structure does not end with placement.

In many ways, it has only just begun.

“There’s a way we’re all called to grow, not just work,” Ruff said. “I think I have the best seat in the house. A lot of good things are happening. ”

Editor’s Note: A version of this story originally ran on the website of The Saint Paul Seminary, located at the University of St. Thomas.