How to Address a Catholic Priest

—-Envelope or address block on letter or email:
—-—-The Reverend (Full Name), (initials of order)
—-—-(Church)
—-—-(Address)

—-—-The Reverend (full name), (initials of order)
—-—-(Institution or Organization)
—-—-(Address)

————Which looks like:
—————-The Reverend Timothy Saunders, C.S.Sp.
—————-Our Lady Queen of Peace
—————-1234 South 19th Street
—————-Arlington, VA 67890

—-Letter salutation:
—-—-Dear Father (Surname):

—-Conversation:
—-—-Father (Surname)

Note: Not every priest will always include post-nominals for their order after their name, but if they provide it, use it in formal written address.

See These Related Links:
——-—-Archbishop
——-—-Bishop
——-—-Brother
——-—-Cardinal
——-—-Deacon
——-—-Monsignor
——-—-Mother Superior
——-—-Nun | Sister
——-—-Pope
——-—-Priest

How to Address a Retired Priest?

How do I write the name of a retired Priest (actually a Monsignor) on correspondence? Is he still a priest? Still a monsignor?
—-—-—-– Valerie

Dear Valerie:

Clergy of all denominations continue to be addressed as clergy when they retire.

Think of this way: being a rabbi/priest/monsignor/etc. is a personal rank one attains and keeps. A retired person keeps these.

That’s different than a role. Chairman, president, or dean are roles – offices one assumes, occupies, then leaves. Forms of address for such roles stay with the office and don’t follow the person. A retired person wouldn’t keep those.

– Robert Hickey

Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”

How Do Priests Address One Another?

How do Catholic priests address each other? Would they be casual as two non-religious friends calling each other by their first names? Or do they call each other ‘father’ all the time?
———-—– Carole Schaeffer

Dear Ms. Schaeffer:

They are likely to have public and private forms of address.

When others, not on a first-name basis, were also present, I’d guess they use first names. In the presence of those not on a first name basis, they would switch over to their formal forms of address.

This pattern is pretty standard with high officials from every hierarchy are with friends. Sometimes they are a public official – at other moments they are a private person. The forms of address match the situation.

– Robert Hickey

See These Related Links:
——-—-Archbishop
——-—-Bishop
——-—-Brother
——-—-Cardinal
——-—-Deacon
——-—-Monsignor
——-—-Mother Superior
——-—-Nun | Sister
——-—-Pope
——-—-Priest

Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”

When Should You Use the Forms on this Page?

You can use these forms of address for any mode of communication: addressing a letter, invitation, card or Email. (If there are differences between the official and social forms of address, I will have mentioned the different forms.)  The form noted in the salutation is the same form you say when you say their name in conversation or when you greet them.
___What I don’t cover on this site are many things I do cover in my book: all the rules of forms of address, about names, international titles, precedence, complimentary closes, details on invitations, place cards, all sorts of introductions, etc. I hope you’ll get a copy of the book if you’d like the further detail.

Not Finding Your Answer?

—-#1)  At right on desktops, at the bottom of every page on tablets and phones, is a list of all the offices, officials & topics covered on the site.

—-#2)  If you don’t see the official you seek included or your question answered send me an e-mail. I am pretty fast at sending a reply: usually the next day or so (unless I am traveling.)  Note: I don’t have mailing or Email addresses for any of the officials and I don’t keep track of offices that exist only in history books.

—-#3)  If I think your question is of interest to others, Sometimes I post the question  – but always change all the specifics.

— Robert Hickey 

Robert Hickey author of “Honor & Respect”

Recommended Resources:  The Protocol School of Washington (PSOW) and Protocol and Diplomacy International – Protocol Officers Association (PDI-POA)    For more information see the Protocol Resources page.