Priest used to go to peoples homes to see how they live, to see if there are other relatives not going to mass, to learn more about their parishioners lives, and to socialize and eat. In our parish the priests told me that the SSPX does not allow them to go to peoples houses but one day a month. The priests only go to like the houses of two big contributors.

Is this a common practice all over?

I'm concerned because the priests know nothing about the parishioners. It seems to me like the priests job has been reduced to providing the mass, and confession, and maybe a hello in the morning.

I think it depends on the priest. The first priest I met came to our home fairly often, and would go actually go to my relative's house if they missed mass- gentle yet insistent.  He was a major factor in the conversion of my family members. He would show up for lunch with a sandwich and offer to split it... we grew to love his humility and sense of humor so much. He also did all those little traditional things that I have not seen since: blessing homes, spices, wine, epiphany chalk, etc.
Since he left, there have been 2 different priests, but not the same. Not that we expect that kind of individual attention, or any at all, really. The first was not so popular with the in crowd, I guess that is why he had time for the small yet meaningful things.

i can identify with that.....

It is a rule for a Priest's protection not to get to "comfortable" in pleasures -as their Catholic Black Cassocks remind all of us of that.

From what I have personally experienced, they are having those ""comfortable  pleasures" in their priory, being served  gourmet meals, wines, cogniac, cigars.

Visiting humble families to eat a sandwhich is not "comfortable pleasires". I think the instruction from "headquarters", accomplishes the wrong end.

Priest used to go to peoples homes to see how they live, to see if there are other relatives not going to mass, to learn more about their parishioners lives, and to socialize and eat. In our parish the priests told me that the SSPX does not allow them to go to peoples houses but one day a month. The priests only go to like the houses of two big contributors.

Is this a common practice all over?

I'm concerned because the priests know nothing about the parishioners. It seems to me like the priests job has been reduced to providing the mass, and confession, and maybe a hello in the morning.

As in your post on the other thread, it would seem that your experience differs from mine.

My priest has come to our house twice since June (and he knows I have not tithed, since Bishop Fellay announced his willingness to accept a merely practical accord with Rom on Feb 2, 2011).

Additionally, it is written into the rule of the SSPX that the priest is not to become too familiar with the parishioners, and therefore recommends not accepting dinner invitations more than on a monthly basis.

Archbishop Lefebvre's reasons for this were prudent:

1) Friendships between priest and laity are to be disinterested; he is not one of the guys;

2) The priest is to avoid occassions by which the laity may gain an undue influence over him, that his government not be compromised;

3) The laymen who are familiar with their priest will find it more difficult to confess their sins to a priest they know knows their identity.

You don't have to like the Rule Archbishop Lefebvre wrote for his pius union, but it was based on his experience of governing his priests as a missionary bishop for 30 years.

More to the point, this is not an area which has changed in the pre/post accord orientation of Menzingen, but has been the wise policy since the Rule came into force in 1970.

Please keep in mind that the SSPX was supposed to have a missionary character which mirrored its founder, and the pius union was never intended to mirror the apostolate of simple secular/diocesan clergy (as in your pre-Vatican 2 example above).

I have lived for many, many years where we have several SSPX priests. They accept invitations readily and not just where the folks are "big contributors". We are fortunate, our poor priests have so many duties and obligations that it would not be surprising if they had to limit their visits in outlying missions.

Haven't any of you ever noticed how a young newly ordained, healthy priest with a full head of hair goes thin and grey almost overnight? The priesthood, SSPX style, is a martyrdom. It is a life of incredible stresses and loneliness. They need more prayers and less criticism.