Spring has been a sacramental season in our diocese. Not only are we seeing an increase in the number of people celebrating the Eucharist each weekend, but parishes have celebrated baptisms, first reconciliation, first Communion and marriages. Meanwhile, I confirmed close to 300 of our youth throughout our diocese. The three regional episcopal vicars assisted me with the confirmations of nearly 1,000 other young people in the diocese, bringing the total confirmed since last fall to 1,688. On May 22, I ordained Dillon Bruce to the transitional diaconate, and this Saturday, I will ordain Tom Lawrence a priest.
An important purpose of the sacrament of holy orders is to help bring about and facilitate good order in the life, activity and mission of our Church. Those who answer the call to holy orders dedicate themselves to Church leadership in cooperation with the bishop.
With the deacon and priest, the emphasis on service cannot be overstated. Pope Francis said as much when he ordained nine priests on Good Shepherd Sunday: “Priests are established co-workers of the Order of Bishops, with whom they are joined in the priestly office and with whom they are called to the service of the people of God.”
Our Holy Father emphasized that point when he later stated that priesthood “was not a career, it is a service.”
Each of those called to ordained priesthood has a share in the one priesthood of Christ. We must remember that for the priest the call isn’t just to ordination day, but it is a daily call in which he offers his life as a sacrifice to God and in love of neighbor, continually striving for holiness.
Those called to priesthood are inspired to ongoing study, prayer and formation in the faith. They are encouraged to put their lives and relationships with those in and outside the Church in good order according to God’s plan. With the graces priests receive, they seek to transform the world in accordance with the Gospel.
Pope Francis advised the newly ordained about the importance of accompaniment, of those with whom they must have “closeness” — God, their bishop, their brother priests and the people they serve.
Their closeness to God comes through prayer. An intentional prayer life is essential for a priest to remain immersed in his vocation and to continually answer the call to serve.
They are to be close to their bishop who is to regard them, as the fathers of the Second Vatican Council noted, “their indispensable helpers and advisers in the ministry and in the teaching, sanctifying and shepherding the People of God” (“Decree on the Life and Ministry of Priests,” 7).
That same document speaks of priests having an “intimate sacramental brotherhood” in which they share in the building up of the Body of Christ. That bond is furthered and the closeness strengthened by their support of each other through prayer, study and fraternity.
Throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis has emphasized how close priests should be to the people they serve. He summarized that during his 2013 Chrism Mass homily when he said to priests, “This is what I am asking you: be shepherds with the smell of sheep.”
In this and in upcoming issues of The Catholic Virginian, you will read about priests celebrating 25-, 40-, 50- and even 60-year jubilees. I invite you to join me in praying the prayer that accompanies this column, thanking God for their service and asking his guidance as they continue to answer the daily call to priestly ministry:
Prayer of Thanksgiving for Priests
Gracious and loving God, we thank you for the gift of our priests.
Through them, we experience your presence in the sacraments.
Help our priests to be strong in their vocation.
Set their souls on fire with love for your people.
Grant them the wisdom, understanding, and strength they need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
Inspire them with the vision of your Kingdom.
Give them the words they need to spread the Gospel.
Allow them to experience joy in their ministry.
Help them to become instruments of your divine grace.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns as our Eternal Priest.
Amen.
— from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops