Dear Parishioners,
Sometimes when I describe my
life as a priest to others, I explain that I often feel like I am doing
constant triage. Those of you who work at the hospital or in
the medical profession probably understand this best. I attempt to prioritize the many concerns in
front of me and then take on the most urgent tasks first. Is someone
seriously ill or dying? Who needs my time and attention the most? What
are the things that only a priest can do—is ordained to do? Pope Francis mentioned something similar in a
few of his messages: The church seems like a field hospital, where
the first order of the day is heal the wounds, not measure people's cholesterol.
I couldn’t agree more.
There are so many important,
urgent matters that the church needs to face these days. I think firstly of the need to help bring people to God—to let all people
see the love that Jesus Christ has for them.
In days gone by there might
have been plenty for a priest to do by simply remaining at the rectory or in the
office waiting for someone to drop by, seeking his assistance. Today, more than ever, I think the priest
needs to go among his people, to seek out and to bring back those lost sheep that
have strayed. Maybe this will involve
visiting a home or family. Maybe a
matter will be discussed over breakfast or dinner. To the consternation of some, I have never really
been the type of person who simply remains in an office, at a desk all day. I tend to be on the go, out and about quite frequently. I realize that this might be frustrating for
people who come to see me, who expect a call to be returned immediately or who are
looking to obtain an instant answer from me.
Sorry.
What do I see as those important
matters where a priest needs to be spending his time? First, only a priest can celebrate Mass and offer this most perfect sacrifice to God. From the Mass we receive the Most Holy
Eucharist, hear the Word of God proclaimed and preached, and worship as the
Body of Christ—the Church. Second, only
a priest—in the Sacrament of Penance and
Reconciliation—has the privilege to forgive
sins in the name of Jesus. In my
estimation, time spent hearing confessions is time well-spent. Again, only a priest can anoint the sick and dying in the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. A priest should be called when someone is
elderly, seriously ill, in danger of death, in the hospital, preparing for
major surgery, etc.
From my experience in the
confessional and in various other circumstances, I have found that some of the
most urgent needs of parishioners include the need to regularize marriages, the ongoing desire for healing and forgiveness in people’s lives, various addictions affecting people and their far-reaching
impact, the increasing lack of knowledge, understanding and practice of the
Catholic faith, and a general disconnect with many of the teaching of the
Church.
I pray each day that God helps
me to be an instrument of His Grace, His forgiveness and His healing. A priest needs to be Christ’s visible presence
for others in the world. Imperfectly and unworthily, I attempt to carry this out daily.
Fr. Ed Namiotka
Pastor
