Within my parish it went like that: I, a studied theology - once roman catholic - had joined the old catholic church a couple of years ago... after the early death of my brother I decided to use my studied talents within this church. The priest in my church was pleased to have a educted help and nugged me to get credits also within old catholic church for my finished studied - though i work within the IT Business. in the End I was sent to a small parish in vienna to help as Lector - not ordained but integrated within our hierarchy... So I got to know the people in this parish. I noticed i will have to spent nearly every sunday to get to know the people.. and to give them the chance to get acquainted ... When the Priest in this parish decided not to bury the burden of beeing responsible the parish stood empty... The bishop asked me to take over - beeing there and doing workships as good as gets - only once every couple of months the bishop could service us... so I did and prepared to get ordained as Deacon and then Priest. So it started 2010, Deacon 2011, Priest 2012 and elected Reverend 2014. But I was still working within the IT-Business - until today.. I reduced working time there... but now I have do do more work there again... the Parish will notice my lack of time and energy. I tried to get a valuable substitute for all the ministry lays can do in a parish, but the new bishop denied me help - this could detoriate the established order of the ordained priest - fear in their hearts that they could loose their full time jobs when lays get payed for their work - instead of the ordained priest. ... (sic!) I am a bit confused - am I in the rights church? is old-catholic not liberal and open minded? ... So I am searching for a compas to get my parish further on the way to beiing able to serve themselve... even without help from the bishop.