Clergy Appreciation Month 2026
Archpastoral Message from His Eminence Archbishop Mark

Dear to God,

Christ is in our midst! He is and ever shall be!

October is Clergy Appreciation Month, and the second Sunday, October 11 this year, is nationally recognized as Pastor Appreciation Day. As Orthodox Christians, let us make it something more this year. Let us make October Clergy Family Appreciation Month.

Our clergy are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Clergy often have family occasions, such as anniversaries, birthdays, and sporting events, interrupted. Even vacation time may be disrupted so they can minister to members of their flock. The demands placed upon our clergy regularly take them away from their own family events.

Sadly, clergy are more likely to hear from someone who is unhappy. Like the nine lepers in the Gospel who did not return to give thanks, those who are pleased with their pastor often say nothing. The rate of clergy burnout is astounding, with around 1,500 clergy leaving active ministry every month (https://www.pastoralcareinc.com/statistics/). A disturbing article in Leaders & Pastors reported that, as of November 2021, 38% of pastors had seriously considered resigning. In January 2021, the figure was 29%. In only a few months, the percentage had increased significantly (https://www.barna.com/research/pastors-well-being/).

Unfortunately, some people believe the role of the clergy is to make them happy! Yet, the role of the priest is not to make people happy; it is to make them holy! When I went to my second parish, the council chairman greeted me by saying, “Fr. Mark, your only role here is to make people happy.” Without skipping a beat, I responded, “Our Lord took on our humanity, opened the eyes of the blind and the ears of the deaf, healed the withered hand, cleansed the lepers, raised up the lame, and raised the dead, and they nailed Him to a tree! Why would I expect to be treated any differently?”

As for pleasing the faithful, there will always be a few who will never be happy with any priest. Anyone in a leadership position who speaks behind his or her priest’s back should resign immediately for the good of the parish and his or her own salvation. A house divided cannot stand.

Our clergy have been entrusted by the Lord with a stewardship for which they will answer. Let us pray that they will always rise above seeking the praise of men, remain faithful to their high calling through service, preaching, and teaching, and seek to please the Lord in all things. Additionally, our clergy wives and families make great sacrifices in their service to the Church, and their family lives are deeply affected by the demands of the priesthood.

For Clergy Appreciation Month, I would ask our parish councils to encourage the faithful in their parishes to show their appreciation to their priest and his family in a few ways:

1. Attend the services regularly, as well as all classes intended to enrich our faith
2. Send a card listing five things you sincerely appreciate about your priest, his Matushka, and their family
3. Consider, either jointly or personally, giving the priest and Matushka gift cards to their favorite coffee shop or restaurant
4. Consider offering some form of recognition to clergy wives and families for the sacrifices they make as well
5. Perhaps your Priest and Matushka would appreciate some time together at a bed-and-breakfast

Finally, expressions of appreciation for your pastor and his family should not be limited to the month of October. Years ago, I remember hearing a priest say, “For every negative comment, we need to offer a hundred ‘attaboys.’” Let us always seek to build one another up and express our gratitude.

Please keep me in your prayers as I keep you in mine.

Your unworthy father in Christ,

+MARK
Archbishop of Philadelphia and the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania

Issued by the Diocesan Media Office