Fr. Jerry Pokorsky: The Conundrum of Family Pastoral Care

By Fr. Jerry Pokorsky, Catholic Culture, March 31, 2025

Fr. Jerry Pokorsky is a priest of the Diocese of Arlington who has also served as a financial administrator in the Diocese of Lincoln. Trained in business and accounting, he also holds a Master of Divinity and a Master’s in moral theology. Father Pokorsky co-founded both CREDO and Adoremus, two organizations deeply engaged in authentic liturgical renewal. He writes regularly for a number of Catholic websites and magazines

Every family has a lifetime to break sinful patterns and prepare us for the harmony of heaven. Purgatory is our destiny if we fall short. Let’s expand the horizons of conventional musings on the parable of the Prodigal Son to include the conundrum of family pastoral care.

The parable of the Prodigal Son (cf. Lk. 15:11-32) is the story of sin and repentance. The wayward son severs himself from the family, runs off with a premature portion of his inheritance, ruins his life, comes to his senses, and returns to his safe-haven family. But Mom is noticeably absent.

Suppose the family of the prodigal son meets with a priest for pastoral advice. The priest has his own inter-relational problems like anyone else. But he should have a firm grasp of Christian principles for application. A priest should insist that he cannot delegate the virtue of prudence. He may also notice a few unresolved issues and make common-sense observations. …

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