“The Holy Spirit gives wisdom against folly, understanding against dullness, counsel against rashness, fortitude against fears, knowledge against ignorance, piety against hardness of our heart, and fear against pride.” ~Pope Gregory the Great
Priesthood: A Priceless Pearl
What a special grace it was to be on retreat May 5-8, 2013, at St. Paul Seminary with my classmates from the ordination class of 1988. It was 33 years ago that I began my priestly journey there. It made me think of Jesus’ 33 years of life. It was a ‘Pentecost experience’ with the abundant gifts of the Holy Spirit being poured upon us, that empowered and energized us, for the work of ministry. There were a number of talks with a different priest giving each of them. Bishop David Zubik gave the opening talk. He told us “Twenty-five years is no small milestone!”, and said that God has entrusted us to touch peoples’ hearts with love. He called us a ‘source of pride’ for the Church of Pittsburgh, and for all our brothers and sisters, whose lives, through our “yes!” have come to know Jesus.
The Bishop said that he himself had 37 years of Catholic education and that he is indebted to the Felician Sisters at St. Stanislaus School in Ambridge. He spoke in particular of Sr. Eugenia, a brilliant and stately nun, who had a doctorate. He recounted the time when he received his first Holy Communion along with 60 classmates. Sr. Eugenia stressed an important lesson: receiving Jesus in the Eucharist would change our lives. She told the Bishop’s class to pray that Jesus would help us to receive Him as: ‘our first Communion, our last communion, and our only Communion’. Humans are creatures of habit and there can be a great temptation to take this sacred encounter for granted. It could even become robotic, routine and commonplace. The Eucharist, is freely given, but was never meant to be a ‘freebie’. Jesus expected and demanded service of those who were to receive Him. The Bishop encouraged the priests present to celebrate the sacred mystery of Holy Mass as if it were our: ‘first Mass, our last Mass, and our only Mass’. He discussed the Miracle of the Feeding of 5,000: Jesus took, blessed, broke and gave. (Mark 6:34-44). This action of Jesus is once again imitated at the Last Supper, which is not only the institution of the Eucharist, but also the institution of the priesthood. When Jesus washed the feet of His disciples (John 13), at the time it was considered uncouth to do this. Jesus emphasized the importance of humility and servant-hood.
The priest is essential for the Eucharistic assembly. The priest, Eucharist and the people are all gifts. As a priest, the highlight of my day is always the Eucharistic sacrifice. The Paschal mystery, the dying and rising of Jesus, is the center of my entire priestly life. The Eucharist belongs to the Church and one must celebrate it faithfully, communicating the heart and mind of the Church with a continuity throughout every generation. As in the words of Sr. Eugenia, “Lord, help me to celebrate you, receive you, and give you as if it were my first Mass, my last Mass, and my only Mass.”
Fr. Tim Whalen, who preached at my first Mass on May 22, 1988, Pentecost Sunday, spoke of the importance of ‘lifelong formation.’ He remarked that he attended the 50th Golden Jubilee of Fr. Bernard M. Harcarik, Pastor of Prince of Peace Parish in South Side. Fr. Harcarik said - “I am still learning what it means to be a priest. I’m still going deeper, as there is so much more that I have to learn even after 50 years.” Fr. Whalen noted, “That is the mark of a good priest.”
When Jesus went to the mountain to pray, he called forth his 12 followers, challenging them with a mission. He sent them forth to preach, teach and heal in His name. (Mark 3:13-15) Fr. Whalen stressed that Jesus is in fact creating an awareness of a need of ongoing formation through 3 facets: evangelization, servant-leadership and lifelong formation.
In “Pastoris Dabo Vobis” (Blessed John Paul II “The formation of priests”-1992), it states that there are ‘four pillars’ that blend together, that are intended for life, and that each dimension builds on the other: human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral formation.
1. Human formation: Is the priest a man of communion? (One who unites, bonds, brings people together.) Everything builds on the human. A priest is called to be a ‘bridge-builder’ with the people. One must know the human heart. One must be in touch with his own heart in order to touch the hearts of others and be effective. Through the sacred vow of celibacy, a priest opens the vessel of his heart to the affectivity of the heart, to love others and receive their love. We need to reach out to others and allow them to reach out to us. A priest is part of every family and the more one belongs to Christ, the more fully one can belong to others. Family is precious, friends are prized, but the first place in our hearts is reserved for this priceless pearl, in life: our relationship with God.
2. Spiritual Formation: Is the priest a man of contemplation? (One who cultivates a listening, silent posture of prayer.) It is critically important that one listens to what God has to say. God has powerful stuff to communicate but He has to be able to get through to us. The word absurd means to be deaf, to not hear. The word obedience means, to listen, to obey. “Don’t be an empty preacher of the word of God by not hearing God’s word in your heart first.” ~St. Augustine
3. Intellection Formation: Is the priest contemporary? (Be updated, on top of things, ‘speak their language’, do not be afraid to be stretched.) It could mean to learn another language, acquire another skill, or accept another challenge to grow outside of ‘where we are potted’.
4. Pastoral Formation: Is the priest a communicator? (When one is tired, overwhelmed or burned out, one cannot shepherd wisely.) All three of the previous formations feed into this one. One must cooperate with grace, gifts, skills, opportunities, desiring to pray with and lead others. Pastoral practice must be paramount - through sensitivity and hospitality and presence.
Fr. Carmen D’Amico spoke about the infant Church and the ideals of the Apostles. Like the Apostles, at the beginning of their ministry I was also idealistic. We must recapture what has become forgotten or frozen, in order to reclaim that original joy. The vision and the longing and striving for idealism must be revisited. I recapture my joy and excitement through hospital visits, home-care of shut-ins, speaking to and sharing with youth, breaking open God’s word, journaling and writing, one-on-one experiences such as: counseling the addicted, the penitent, the sick. The Acts of the Apostles is fresh wisdom of the ancestors of the faith, reminding us that we need to ‘rekindle’ each Easter season and perhaps even each day.
Fr. Fred Cain said that in reviewing our 25 years we can see God’s love and care for us. God is so good. He has surprised us, which leads to the fulfillment of His dream for us, one day in heaven.
Fr. Charles Bober spoke about the ‘Call of the Prophet Jeremiah’ (6th cent. prophet), and asked the same questions that Jeremiah asked in 600 BC. Am I making any difference? Am I really doing any good? Do I examine my conscience daily, do my best, and try again tomorrow? Through the ‘muck and mire’ of life on earth, God watches and walks with us. Let us live for heaven. That is our destiny. It gives us hope here on earth. After 25 years of ordained ministry, I love the call to priesthood. I have no regrets. There is no greater joy!
