Another visitor notes that Joanne Phillips has said in the past she will never move from her home. In Texas, a man can't sell his home, without his wife's consent. Besides that, Dcn Orr owns the home next door to Fr. Phillips. Their backyards connect with a gate.
The Poor Clare sisters have plans to build their own place. Perhaps that would rectify the situation, but the question would be how far the plans are moving toward fruition. But in addition, any new pastor will be placed in an awkward situation with a Pastor Emeritus living next to the property and his right-hand deacon on site as well.
Dcn Orr's take appears to be that with Fr Phillips back officially as Pastor Emeritus, he's now returning and calling himself Deacon Emeritus -- whether this is with official sanction, we don't know. (As I understand it, a university professor can retire, but to be called emeritus requires a vote of the faculty.) But if Bp Lopes has plans to put in a new pastor next year and send the parish in a new direction, this could be a bigger problem than he may have thought.
I would give a great deal of prayer and thought to the matter if I were offered the post of pastor at OLA starting next year.
UPDATE: My regular correspondent notes,
I have seen no indication that Mr Orr has been incardinated into the OCSP, which would presumably be the necessary first step in becoming Deacon Emeritus. If your version of the negotiations leading up to the current arrangements at OLA is remotely accurate he will not be assuming any role there, ever.The issue, though, is not what Bp Lopes calls him, but what he calls himself with an influential parish faction in agreement. I think there will be major challenges to any new pastor if Phillips and Orr remain on site.
