Behind The Collar: I Like Being a Priest
I Like Being a Priest
By Rev. Msgr. William H. Carr
The Catholic Virginian published in July 2009
Forty years ago an eager group of men rose from the Richmond cathedral sanctuary floor and were “... sent out to all the world to tell the Good News.”
Seven deacons attended a week-long retreat right up to the day of ordination. We were raring for work but work without prayer is not priestly and the retreat kept us focused on the Lord, whose work we were about to commence.
The ordination was grand. A full church filled that holy ground with sound and song.
The ordinandi preceded Bishop Russell and Auxiliary Bishop Flaherty who were led by 100 priests. Among them were Monsignor Walter F. Sullivan, Chancellor and Cathedral Rector. Young Father Charles Kelly was the master of ceremonies. Here were Monsignor Francis Byrne, my first pastor, and Monsignor Paul Heller, who preached at my First Mass in Falls Church.
In the congregation were parishioners whom I would later meet, priests and Chancery workers who would become life long friends.
That ordination was resplendent with all the majesty the Church summons for its great occasions. But there is one memory that stands above them all.
In his wonderful ordination homily this past May Father Michael Renninger repeatedly referred to “right there.” He pointed to the floor in front of the cathedral altar and spoke passionately about how many important things happen “right there.”
Right there, face down upon that floor have lain hundreds of young men about to be ordained priests. The most recently ordained Father David Cupps did and we did 40 years earlier.
That profound moment, laying face down on the cathedral floor reminded us to live in a manner worthy of His call with all humility. I have never found that easy.
My heart is in parish ministry. Thank you, Bishop DiLorenzo, Bishop Sullivan and Bishop Russell for calling me beyond what I wanted or thought I could do. My parish assignments were filled with all the ups and downs of human life.
In every parish assignment I worked with very strong leaders and countless willing workers.
During my parish assignments at Holy Spirit, St. Augustine, St. Bede and at St. Bridget the parishioners taught me how to be a priest.
Seminary is central and one’s first pastor is critical in a young priest’s formation. But the demands of parish ministry, often happy demands, sometimes challenging, call me to live for Christ and die to self, a life-long lesson I am still learning.
A priest’s life is wonderful. It’s not always easy but is anything?
As Monsignor Chester Michael said in an earlier article, our calling carries us into the unique moments of people’s lives. Laughter enlivens the rectory. Sometimes I am alone but never lonely.
How did I know for sure I should be a priest?
Was God calling me or was I calling myself?
Family and friends weighed in. Sister Cornelia Boyle, the Benedictine principal of my high school, encouraged me: “Go to the seminary. Learn. Find out from them if you have this gift. A vocation is a gift, not a choice. You don’t make that decision, the Church does.”
This direct advice brought my surrender and with it a part in Christ the High Priest’s priesthood. I love it!
There is plenty of work to do and everyone helps us. It is fine with parishioners if we are good preachers and if not, at least brief. We must be transparent managers of the parish money and property.
The Church calls us to celibacy which frees us to love a people instead of a person.
A priest is a man of prayer. He comes and goes from the heart of Christ, that inner sanctum where Jesus the High Priest and he the lowly priest rejoice and weep, sing and dance, love and let go.
No pastoral conversation is possible without prayer. The parishioners must know that the priest stands before God and only then stands before them.
And there in the presence of God his heart speaks to God’s heart. There he loves and is loved the most.
I pray more when I am scared. I pray better when I am relaxed and prayer is routine, a genius of the breviary. Preparing to preach keeps me at prayer. The parish, with its constant round of liturgies, pastoral calls and meetings is my spiritual family.
Comboni Missionary Sister Juliana recently told me that she has been in religious life since 1953 and never regretted a moment of it. She said, “And I like it.”
That astute observer of American priests Monsignor Kevin Irwin touchingly reminded parishioners at St. Mary Church in Richmond why men continue to serve in the priesthood.
Monsignor Irwin listed the many blessings of priesthood and clearly cataloged its challenges.
Then: “Why do we do it? We do it for and with you. Processing into a church on a Sunday makes all the difference in the world in a priest’s life. Presiding at the altar day after day makes all the difference in a priest’s life. And that is what it is -- a life, not a job, not a position, it is a life.
"We do it because we like being priests.”
In 40 years I have done the best I could, been forgiven much, learned not enough.
I always feel needed and useful.
I have done more than I ever thought I would or could. For that I thank the Lord.
And, like the good monsignor says, I like being a priest!
(Monsignor Carr is pastor of St. Bridget Church in Richmond.)
The Catholic Virginian published in July 2009
Forty years ago an eager group of men rose from the Richmond cathedral sanctuary floor and were “... sent out to all the world to tell the Good News.”
Seven deacons attended a week-long retreat right up to the day of ordination. We were raring for work but work without prayer is not priestly and the retreat kept us focused on the Lord, whose work we were about to commence.
The ordination was grand. A full church filled that holy ground with sound and song.
The ordinandi preceded Bishop Russell and Auxiliary Bishop Flaherty who were led by 100 priests. Among them were Monsignor Walter F. Sullivan, Chancellor and Cathedral Rector. Young Father Charles Kelly was the master of ceremonies. Here were Monsignor Francis Byrne, my first pastor, and Monsignor Paul Heller, who preached at my First Mass in Falls Church.
In the congregation were parishioners whom I would later meet, priests and Chancery workers who would become life long friends.
That ordination was resplendent with all the majesty the Church summons for its great occasions. But there is one memory that stands above them all.
In his wonderful ordination homily this past May Father Michael Renninger repeatedly referred to “right there.” He pointed to the floor in front of the cathedral altar and spoke passionately about how many important things happen “right there.”
Right there, face down upon that floor have lain hundreds of young men about to be ordained priests. The most recently ordained Father David Cupps did and we did 40 years earlier.
That profound moment, laying face down on the cathedral floor reminded us to live in a manner worthy of His call with all humility. I have never found that easy.
My heart is in parish ministry. Thank you, Bishop DiLorenzo, Bishop Sullivan and Bishop Russell for calling me beyond what I wanted or thought I could do. My parish assignments were filled with all the ups and downs of human life.
In every parish assignment I worked with very strong leaders and countless willing workers.
During my parish assignments at Holy Spirit, St. Augustine, St. Bede and at St. Bridget the parishioners taught me how to be a priest.
Seminary is central and one’s first pastor is critical in a young priest’s formation. But the demands of parish ministry, often happy demands, sometimes challenging, call me to live for Christ and die to self, a life-long lesson I am still learning.
A priest’s life is wonderful. It’s not always easy but is anything?
As Monsignor Chester Michael said in an earlier article, our calling carries us into the unique moments of people’s lives. Laughter enlivens the rectory. Sometimes I am alone but never lonely.
How did I know for sure I should be a priest?
Was God calling me or was I calling myself?
Family and friends weighed in. Sister Cornelia Boyle, the Benedictine principal of my high school, encouraged me: “Go to the seminary. Learn. Find out from them if you have this gift. A vocation is a gift, not a choice. You don’t make that decision, the Church does.”
This direct advice brought my surrender and with it a part in Christ the High Priest’s priesthood. I love it!
There is plenty of work to do and everyone helps us. It is fine with parishioners if we are good preachers and if not, at least brief. We must be transparent managers of the parish money and property.
The Church calls us to celibacy which frees us to love a people instead of a person.
A priest is a man of prayer. He comes and goes from the heart of Christ, that inner sanctum where Jesus the High Priest and he the lowly priest rejoice and weep, sing and dance, love and let go.
No pastoral conversation is possible without prayer. The parishioners must know that the priest stands before God and only then stands before them.
And there in the presence of God his heart speaks to God’s heart. There he loves and is loved the most.
I pray more when I am scared. I pray better when I am relaxed and prayer is routine, a genius of the breviary. Preparing to preach keeps me at prayer. The parish, with its constant round of liturgies, pastoral calls and meetings is my spiritual family.
Comboni Missionary Sister Juliana recently told me that she has been in religious life since 1953 and never regretted a moment of it. She said, “And I like it.”
That astute observer of American priests Monsignor Kevin Irwin touchingly reminded parishioners at St. Mary Church in Richmond why men continue to serve in the priesthood.
Monsignor Irwin listed the many blessings of priesthood and clearly cataloged its challenges.
Then: “Why do we do it? We do it for and with you. Processing into a church on a Sunday makes all the difference in the world in a priest’s life. Presiding at the altar day after day makes all the difference in a priest’s life. And that is what it is -- a life, not a job, not a position, it is a life.
"We do it because we like being priests.”
In 40 years I have done the best I could, been forgiven much, learned not enough.
I always feel needed and useful.
I have done more than I ever thought I would or could. For that I thank the Lord.
And, like the good monsignor says, I like being a priest!
(Monsignor Carr is pastor of St. Bridget Church in Richmond.)