Addressing a priest

tmeyer621 · January 2012

I'm sure this has been asked before, just want to make sure... When addressing invitation to our priest, I've heard to address "The Reverand" if he is part of a specific order. My priest is a Franciscan so would it be The Reverand Fr. First name last name, O.F.M.? Please help!

professorscience · January 2012

We asked our priest, and he told us to do it however we wanted. How is he listed on your parish website/bulletins?

ootmother2 · January 2012

OFM = Order of Friar Minor

would be the literal translation

He's a Franciscan priest and they don't usually use this title of address

SSJ, Jesuits, (Society of Jesus) usually do. I don't know why. It could be local though.

lalaith50 · January 2012

I'm not positive about this, but I believe that almost any priest could be referred to as "Reverend." It is a more formal way of addressing a priest who is also called "Father ..."

"Father" is a term that I don't think anyone except Catholics use. Some other denominations call their pastors "Reverend."

I don't know about religious orders at all, but when I worked in a church office, the majority of mail was addressed in the "Reverend" form for the priest.

lisa89760 · January 2012

I put Father...but I don't really know if that is right or not. He's my uncle so I doubt he would actually care how I addressed his invite haha

newlyseliski · January 2012

I don't think most priests are picky... we just used "Father" and "Deacon" on our invitations since we knew them pretty well. However, if you'd like to keep it formal here's some etiquette info that I found on clearheavens' bio that is pretty useful for formal clergy titles:

TIP: These are common Roman Catholic clerical titles.

Bishop: The Very Reverend
Monsignor: The Reverend Monsignor or The Very Reverend
Diocesan priest: The Reverend
Priests who are members of religious orders: The Reverend Father
Priests who are abbots of monasteries: The Right Reverend
Transitional deacon: Reverend Mr. or Deacon
Permanent deacon: Deacon

"Father" is what you call a Roman Catholic priest. If you're addressing him in person, use "Father."

Final note, not to make it more confusing, but this only applies to the Roman Catholic Church. A lot of this will not apply if you're talking about the Eastern Catholic Church. While according to Wiki about 98% of Catholics are Roman Rite Catholics, there are other Catholic rites such as the Byzantine Rite, which follow different clerical titles.

ElisabethJoanne · January 2012

Get an old etiquette book from the library. They all have forms of address for secular and religious priests. The parish bulletin listing the resident clergy will confirm what the book says (or not, in which case, follow the bulletin)

ECook25 · January 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_addressing-priest?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:615Discussion:6798ce62-7a22-4793-a3eb-f9bfd363a443Post:2cf2da37-b1bc-4ef3-b646-53a3b07743d9">Re: Addressing a priest</a>:
[QUOTE]I don't think most priests are picky... we just used "Father" and "Deacon" on our invitations since we knew them pretty well. However, if you'd like to keep it formal here's some etiquette info that I found on clearheavens' bio that is pretty useful for formal clergy titles: TIP: These are common Roman Catholic clerical titles. Bishop: The Very Reverend Monsignor: The Reverend Monsignor or The Very Reverend Diocesan priest: The Reverend <strong>Priests who are members of religious orders: The Reverend Father</strong> Priests who are abbots of monasteries: The Right Reverend Transitional deacon: Reverend Mr. or Deacon Permanent deacon: Deacon "Father" is what you call a Roman Catholic priest. If you're addressing him in person, use "Father." Final note, not to make it more confusing, but this only applies to the Roman Catholic Church. A lot of this will not apply if you're talking about the Eastern Catholic Church. While according to Wiki about 98% of Catholics are Roman Rite Catholics, there are other Catholic rites such as the Byzantine Rite, which follow different clerical titles.
Posted by newlyseliski[/QUOTE]

In my case, we are being married by a Jesuit. Would it be correct to address his invitation as The Reverend Father First Last, S.J.?

Addressing a priest

Re: Addressing a priest

Choose Another Board

Search Boards