Category Archives: Priesthood

What Does An Evangelizing Parish Look Like?

By | | , , ,
Comments Off on What Does An Evangelizing Parish Look Like?

The title of this post is one I’ve been struggling with for some time: What does an evangelizing parish look like? In my opinion, this is a vital question that every person in the Catholic Church, whether clergy, religious or lay, needs to be asking. This question is not asked over concern for the future of the Catholic Church, but for the future salvation of those in our communities and neighborhoods.

Much has been made over the past 20-30 years about parishes establishing “mission statements”, but very few that I’ve seen explicitly mention evangelization. Yet, that is a primary mission which Our Lord gave to the Apostles: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20) It’s my contention that we do not evangelize as Catholics because have not made evangelization a primary mission of our parishes.

This post is the first in what should be a lengthy series of intermittent posts discussing various things a “model” evangelizing parish does. My hope is to get a vision that I and other pastors can use to reform our priestly ministry and guide our parishes in becoming evangelizing forces within our communities.

Descent of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands

By | | , ,
2 Comments

Today, at daily Mass, I meant to talk about St. Anthony Mary Claret. I always enjoy talking about the saints on their feast days, and trying to find some connection between this saint and our lives today. So, I printed up a bio of the saint from SQPN, and headed over for Mass.

Well, I think the Holy Spirit had other ideas. As I was proclaiming the Gospel, I was struck by this passage:

He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God. (Luke 13:13)

At all the celebrations of the Sacraments, with the exception of Marriage, the priest or bishop lays his hands on someone or holds his hands over the matter of the Sacrament. Part of the blessing Holy Water includes the priest holding his hands over the water. At the Epiclesis (calling down of the Holy Spirit) of the Eucharistic Prayer, the priest holds his hands over the bread and wine which has been offered to become the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The bishop lays hands on those who are to be Confirmed (can be done by holding hands over them), and also lays hands on those who are to be ordained to Holy Orders. Part of the Rite of Anointing includes the priest silently laying his hands on those receiving the Sacrament of Anointing.

It was the Sacrament of Anointing that really caught me. I had always wondered why the rite called for the priest to lay hands on them. Yes, I knew that the Sacrament worked through the power of the Holy Spirit, symbolized by the anointing with the Oil of Infirm. Yes, I knew that laying on of hands symbolized the descent of the Holy Spirit, but I had never made the full connection until this morning. I admit, I’m not always the brightest bulb in the box. It took me until today to realize consciously that nearly every time Our Lord healed, he touched them or was touched by them.

When the priest lays hands on those receiving the Sacrament of Anointing, it is a prayer for healing by the Holy Spirit. Realize, of course, that the healing we pray for may not always be a physical healing, but any time we pray for healing, healing will occur if the recipient is open to the Holy Spirit. The healing they receive may be spiritual, with a greater openness to the spiritual benefits of the suffering they have to endure. The healing may be a preparation for the final journey into eternal life, which is why Anointing is part of the Last Rites. Any time the Sacrament of Anointing is received, healing will occur.

I truly meant to talk about St. Anthony Mary Claret this morning, but I don’t think he’ll mind that Someone else wanted to be the focus. Come, Holy Spirit!

A few quick thoughts about Fr. Pavone vs. Bishop Zurek

By | | ,
Comments Off on A few quick thoughts about Fr. Pavone vs. Bishop Zurek

I’ve shared a couple thoughts on Google+ about the issue of Fr. Frank Pavone being recalled to the Diocese of Amarillo by his bishop, Bishop Patrick Zurek. Instead of writing up a new blog post covering the same issues, I’m going to copy from what I’ve posted on Google+ into this post. Consider these open letters to Fr. Pavone and those who want to “free” him. To make it clear, I’m not going to cover the canonical issues with the Bishop’s letter, nor with any of the accusations that are floating around. I’m not a canonist (nor would I ever want to be one), and many of the accusations are ridiculous and not worth even mentioning.

First, to those who have the “Free Fr. Frank” page on Facebook:

Dear Free Fr. Frank folks,

I received your email today, and I’d like to respond. No, Fr. Frank Pavone is not being persecuted for being pro-life. No, every pro-life person in america does not need to stand up against his bishop, because it won’t do a thing to “TAKE ACTION FOR THE BABIES!!!” No, I won’t do anything that you want, like sending a letter to his bishop, the Archbishop of San Antonio (who isn’t the boss of the Bishop of Amarillo, sorry), Archbishop Dolan, or the Papal Nuncio’s office.

If you want to help Fr. Frank, stay out of it! If his bishop has some concerns about Fr. Frank, let them sort it out. If you want to help the pro-life cause, go do something! Go pray at an abortuary. Go help at a crisis pregnancy center. Get down on your knees before the Blessed Sacrament and pray to Our Lord and His Mother on behalf of the unborn and their mothers.

Ticking off Bishop Zurek, Archbishop Siller, Archbishop Dolan and the Papal Nuncio won’t do a darn bit of good for the pro-life movement. In fact, it would probably have the opposite effect.

Next, my advice I’d give to Fr. Frank Pavone, if I could:

I have a lot of respect for the pro-life work that Fr. Pavone has done, but I think Phil Lawler at Catholic Culture nails the issues with his fight against his bishop. As a diocesan priest, Fr. Pavone made the same promise I did: obedience to the diocesan bishop. Nowhere in that promise was anything about “unless I have a personal mission in life that I see as more important than being a diocesan priest.” Right now, the best thing Fr. Pavone could do is drop off the radar for a while and serve the Diocese of Amarillo as a diocesan priest, not the head of Priests for Life who incidentally happens to be a diocesan priest.

As an outsider to this particular argument, I don’t know the whole story (neither do those who want to “Free Fr. Frank”), just what Fr. Pavone and the Diocese of Amarillo have chosen to make public. That being said, as a diocesan priest, I take the promise of obedience very seriously, and you do what the the bishop orders unless he orders a priest to do something that is immoral. Fr. Pavone freely took the promise of obedience as a priest in the Archdiocese of New York, and later freely incardinated into the Diocese of Amarillo.

Being recalled to the diocese that he incardinated into is not an immoral act, especially if the bishop has some concerns about the ministry of a priest under his care. In fact, the bishop is doing Fr. Pavone great good if there are problems with how Fr. Pavone practices the priestly ministry. If there are no problems, then we need to trust that Bishop Zurek and Fr. Pavone will work out the differences that led to this conflict, and Fr. Pavone can get back to his pro-life work.

P.S.: I’m usually very open to allowing comments, but one thing I will not allow is bishop bashing. The bishops are the successors of the Apostles, and deserve respect for that reason alone. Yes, they’re fallible human beings, but that doesn’t mean I will allow speculation in my combox that one might be a Mason or influenced by politicians to go against Catholic teaching. So, thank you to all for your comments, but I’m closing this comment box and removing all comments on this post. I should have done that when I first posted, and will use this as a learning experience.

Are we encouraging the workers for the harvest?

By | | ,
1 Comment

Today’s Gospel reading at Mass contains a quote from Our Lord that is very popular within vocation discernment and seminary programs: “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” (Mt 9:37-38) Of course, it’s a beautiful image of  priests as harvesters of souls for Our Lord, and not merely administrators or sacramental functionaries. It’s an image that we should be encouraging, especially to promote prayers and devotions from the laity for vocations.

Prayers and devotional activities asking “the master of the harvest to send out laborers” are important, but there’s another step I think many Catholics are missing. As I mention in my vocation story, one reason for my discernment of a vocation to the priesthood was the insistence by a lay woman that I was going to be a priest. Because she was willing to state (not ask!) that I was called to be a priest, the seeds were planted. She was willing to encourage the vocation, and a vocation bloomed.

As Catholics, we all need to be willing to encourage vocations in our parishes. Doesn’t matter if you’re young or old; lay, religious, or priest; the vocations are out there and the young men in our parishes need to hear our encouragement to consider the call. Throughout their formative years of schooling, children are asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Also, we encourage high schoolers and college students to consider their career, usually saying something like, “You’re good with computers. You should get a degree in computer science,” yet we’re reluctant to say, “You should consider a vocation to the priesthood.” What’s more important: following a career that is only focused on achieving the needs of this life, or following a vocation that focuses on eternal life for himself and those he’s called to serve.

So, my challenge is simple: “ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest”, but also reach out to young men in your parish and encourage them to become the laborers in the harvest!

Review of Sancta Missa Extraordinary Form Workshops

By | | , ,
1 Comment

During the week of May 9-13, I had the great privilege to attend an Extraordinary Form workshop offered by the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius. I had had a great desire to be trained in the Extraordinary Form of the Mass for some time. By a wonderful chance of scheduling, I was able to spend two weeks at the University of St. Mary of the Lake (also known as Mundelein Seminary) for a seminary classmate reunion retreat followed by the Extraordinary Form workshop across campus at the Cardinal Stritch Retreat House.

The workshop began at about Noon on Monday and went for about 96 hours of intense training and practice on the Extraordinary Form. When we weren’t training and practicing (and eating – the retreat house food was excellent!), we were also discussing how to celebrate the Sacraments of Matrimony, Baptism, and Extreme Unction according to the books in effect in 1962, as stipulated by the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum and reinforced by the recently released Instruction Universae Ecclesiae. By a wonderful coincidence, Universae Ecclesiae happened to be promulgated on Friday morning of the workshop, and we spent about an hour discussing the Instruction.

Upon arrival, we were given a stack of materials which included the textbook for the week “Mastering the Rubrics of the 1962 Missal”, a stack of information on the Extraordinary Form of the Mass and Sacraments, and an envelope full of material from the Coalition in Support of Ecclesia Dei. If you’ve been to an Extraordinary Form Mass and seen the softcover red booklets with the Ordinary of the Mass in Latin and English, you’re familiar with this Coalition. The Canons Regular also provided a selection of material from their bookstore for purchase, much of which was written or republished under their Biretta Press imprint.

A very beneficial part of the workshop was daily opportunities to attend Extraordinary Form Masses in choir, both Missa Lecta (Low Mass) and Missa Cantata (High Mass). The priests who sat in choir were placed along the side of the altar so that we could watch closely how the celebrant celebrated the Mass. I learned almost as much watching an experienced priest celebrate Mass as I did practicing on my own.

The members of the Canons Regular who trained us were very patient with us, especially when we would make silly mistakes (always a part of learning something new). My group of 3 had a seminarian brother of the Canons Regular to teach us. We went through the Mass small sections at a time with the brother demonstrating first, and then we would practice one at a time. He’d provide corrections, we’d repeat until we got it right, and so on. By Wednesday evening, we’d gone through the entire Low Mass in the individual sections. All day Thursday and Friday morning were spent putting it all together.

By the end of the week, I was so confident in my ability to celebrate the Extraordinary Form that I celebrated my first Extraordinary Form Mass at 7:00 AM Friday morning. Admittedly, that’s probably a bit rare, and maybe even a bit overconfident on my part. That first celebration of the Extraordinary Form of the Mass wasn’t perfect, but it was valid and licit. I went from a familiarity with the Mass that most of the laity have to able to celebrate in the course of a week.

For any priests who might be interested in attending this workshop in the future, I would say, “Do it!” It was worth the time, travel and money, and I highly recommend working with the Canons Regular to learn the Extraordinary Form. I would advise those priests interested to begin developing familiarity with the Extraordinary Form both through attending the Mass (if possible in your area) and through the Sancta Missa website and DVDs or the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter DVDs. It also helps to work on your Latin pronunciation by praying the Breviary in Latin, if not offering the Ordinary Form in Latin on occasion. I’ve been able to do all that I’ve advised throughout my 3 years as a priest, and easily contributed to my ability to pick up the Extraordinary Form of the Mass as quickly as I did.

It truly was an excellent opportunity, and now I need to go “practice” by celebrating a private Extraordinary Form Mass.

 

Why Am I so Tired?

By | |
2 Comments

I was sitting here wondering why I was so exhausted today, and it hit me: this was probably one of the more emotionally difficult weekends I’ve had in my short time as a priest. Saturday included a funeral in the morning; Confessions and Confirmation in the evening. Sunday was the usual routine of 3 Masses and 100 miles of driving. On top of that were a handful of “make-up” first Confessions. I’m tired because all these various emotional events take a toll on our energy level.

I mention this not to merely talk about myself and make my life sound difficult (it really isn’t), but to show what a priest could go during the course of a weekend. So, when you come to Father after the last Mass of the weekend and he’s obviously tired, please don’t be offended if he’s not willing to give up some of his day off to deal with an issue you want to talk to him about. Likewise, don’t give up inviting Father over for supper just because he wants to spend Sunday evening in his recliner watching baseball and chowing on delivered pizza (Can you tell how I spent this evening?).

The life of a priest is one of the most rewarding and beautiful, but it is also one of the more emotionally draining. We need and appreciate the support and love of our parishioners, but sometimes we also need their understanding for our need for space.

Favorite Blessing — Use only in Moderation

By | | ,
Comments Off on Favorite Blessing — Use only in Moderation

Fr. Cranky comments on the blessings provided in the Book of Blessings. As part of the conversation, my favorite blessing from the Rituale Romanum was brought to mind:

Bless, + O Lord, this creature, ale which by thy power has been produced from kernels of grain. May it be a healthful beverage to mankind, and grant that through the invoking of thy holy name all who drink thereof may find it a help in body and protection in soul. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. (English translation by Rev. Weller)

Of course, this should only be used in moderation.

(Edited to remove links to Fr. Cranky’s blog, which is currently locked.)

Vocations and Obedience

By | |
Comments Off on Vocations and Obedience

Another wonderful post from Fr. John Speekman, the priest in Australia, this time on vocational discernment and priestly obedience. Amazing how priests who are obedient to their bishops and to the Church are also the ones who are more effective in promoting and encouraging vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Think that’s a coincidence? I don’t.

The Healing Presence in an ICU

By | |
Comments Off on The Healing Presence in an ICU

A priest in Australia has posted a beautiful reflection on what it means to offer the Sacraments in a hospital’s Intensive Care Unit. Although I didn’t have the ability to offer any of the Sacraments in ICU when I did my hospital experience, I did spend two shifts visiting ICU. It scared the daylights out of me the first time, but was also the most powerful experience I had throughout that summer. Several times, I visited and prayed with someone who was unable to speak because of a breathing tube. While it was obviously frustrating to them that they couldn’t speak, the look of joy and peace in their eyes after we prayed told me everything. I wish I could have offered them Anointing, but God willing, I’ll be able to do that many times over throughout my priesthood.