If you want to know what it’s like to be a priest in America in the early years of the 21st century, this piece from Pennsylvania may give you an idea:

The Rev. Steven Palsa of St. Philomena Catholic Church of Beaver Falls has long relied on traditional devices, such as a pulpit and confessional, to minister to parishioners.

But he recently added a new way to reach his flock: his cell phone.

It’s the best way to find him since December, when he began regularly crisscrossing the Beaver River to minister to Holy Family Catholic Parish in New Brighton.

“Thank goodness for cell phones,” Palsa said.

He is the most recent of a handful of local Catholic priests to guide a second church. It is the result, in large part, of a shortage of priests and socioeconomic factors, Palsa said.

The situation hasn’t stirred too much controversy. But it’s something priests and parishioners — many accustomed to having a priest for each church — are adjusting to, in some cases begrudgingly.

The Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese includes six counties, among them Beaver County. In 2000, nine of the diocese’s priests were serving multiple parishes. That number is up to 34 today, according to the diocese.

The Rev. James Wehner, the diocese’s director of vocations, said this is due to a variety of reasons. Chief among them is where Catholics live, he said.

In the 1940s and 1950s, as the steel industry flourished, a majority of Catholics settled in urban areas. One, if not two or three, churches were within walking distance of their homes, he said.

But as the steel industry collapsed in the 1970s and 1980s, more Catholics moved to suburban areas. The diocese is still catching up to the migration, Wehner said.

“With the decrease in the number of Catholics in these areas,” he said, “there will be a decrease in the number of priests.”

Living patterns only partly explain why priests are ministering to multiple parishes.

The number of priests within the diocese is declining. In 2000, it had 334 priests, compared with 265 today.

“The reality is, we don’t have enough priests,” Palsa said.

Wehner believes the trend will eventually reverse itself. But until that happens, it is likely a greater percentage of priests will lead multiple parishes, he said.

Wehner acknowledged this can be an uneasy transition, especially among long-established churches. But in many cases, it’s a more attractive choice than other options, such as closing or merging churches.

For many priests, being assigned a second parish is both rewarding and daunting. On one hand, it is an honor; the diocese trusts them to lead hundreds of additional parishioners. The priest has the ability to help more people.

On the other hand, it means more work. Priests find themselves prioritizing the needs of each congregation and wondering whether they’ve devoted enough time to them.

“We’re not necessarily short-changing people in regards to ministry,” said the Rev. Ward Stakem. “But you find yourself asking, ‘Have I spent enough time here?’ ”

Stakem served as pastor of St. Cecilia Parish in Rochester for 11 years before, in 2006, he was asked to minister to St. Felix Church in Freedom.

It was an assignment, at first, he felt unprepared for.

“It wasn’t something we anticipated or were ever trained to do,” said Stakem, a minister for 30 years.

Stakem and his assistant pastor met with leaders of each church. They set meeting times for each council and decided that Stakem and his assistant would alternate weekly saying Mass at each church.

It’s the same scenario at Good Samaritan Church in Ambridge and St. John the Baptist Church in Baden, where the Rev. Terry O’Connor splits pastoral duties with an assistant.

Keeping the Mass schedule eliminates dicey questions, such as: Which church should the priest minister to on sacred days, such as Easter. It doesn’t, however, blunt feelings of guilt or satisfy their doubts.

“You can’t be in both places at both times,” Stakem said. “The expectation is that the pastor will be there, but he can’t.”

Both Stakem and O’Connor said they rely more upon parishioners for day-to-day tasks, such as paying bills and mailing newsletters. That’s a good thing, according to Wehner, who said such work prompts greater involvement in the church.

“Everybody has a role building up the parish,” he said.

Keep reading right here for more.

Photo: by Kevin Lorenzi, Beaver County Times & Allegheny Times