Word to the Wise
Sunday, May 22, 2011 - 5th Sunday of Easter - A
[Acts 6:1-7; 1 Pet 2:4-9; John 14:1-12,46]Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God, and, like living stones let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.......You are a "chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own......[1 Peter]
Today I will celebrate, at the parish in my hometown of Natchitoches, LA, my 40th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood. The original event took place May 22, 1971 at St. Rose Priory in Dubuque, IA, where I studied theology. While I am aware that the sacrament of Holy Orders conferred on me a priesthood that is distinct from the one we all receive in the sacrament of Baptism, I am very conscious of the way in which so many people have truly joined with me in making my exercise of the priestly calling possible!! I simply could not have persevered all these years without the help of family, friends and other Dominicans. I entered religious life and was ordained to the priesthood at a very tumultuous time in the history of the church. Of the 23 other men who began the novitiate with me in August 1964, only two of them remain. Neither of those two were ordained with me. Two of the three men ordained with me are deceased. The fourth returned to his home country of Canada.
Most of my years as a priest have been spent in campus ministry with additional assignments in formation, leadership, and parish ministry. Around 1992, I gradually began what has become my full time ministry now: itinerant preaching of parish missions and retreats. In this ministry I have found myself reminding those who hear me that they are called to a priesthood by virtue of their baptism! They offer with me the Eucharist and I am very much aware of the community that forms during the act of preaching. Everything gets very quiet!! This priesthood of the baptized has somehow lost its significance to most of the people and I am hoping in some small way through my preaching ministry to raise the consciousness of it!
At the celebration of the Eucharist today, I will remember all of you in the Beloved Congregation who take time to "hear" this daily online preaching. I will remember, too, all those who by their love, support, friendship and prayers have made and continue to make my ministry possible. May God bless you all! AMEN