Despite the fact that priests are involved in interpersonal work, there has been no empirical investigation of priestly practice. This paper presents results from an investigation which was undertaken to identify and analyse what actually happens at the priest-priest and priest-layperson interface apropos interpersonal communication in the pastoral work of catholic priests.

It provides a picture of critical incidents in interpersonal interactions and a report of the central communication problems in priestly work using an ethnographic approach to sketch and analyse the range of factors which impinge on the interpersonal process. The results indicate that counselling skills form a key part of the day-to-day work of the priest.