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| Press Room for the Diocese of Phoenix "On Vocations" The ordained priest represents Christ as Head and Shepherd of the Church. He is called by Christ to act in persona Christi capitis. So when a young man is asked THE question — “Why do you want to be a priest?” — it is not surprising when they respond that they have a deep love for the Eucharist, they have a sincere devotion to Mary and the saints, and they have a hunger for the truth as it is found in the Catholic Church. They are simply stating a few of the prerequisites for a life of service as an ordained priest. There are many young adults and teenagers alike who are not about changing the Church’s role as given to us by Christ. They love the Church! They love Jesus Christ! They have a desire to be loyal to the teaching of the Pope and bishops. They go to Mass daily. They receive the Sacrament of Penance regularly. They have a sense of what it means to serve the people of God. They are not conservative or liberal or progressive or traditional. They are people open to the Holy Spirit, open to formation and eager to grow in faith. The men applying to enter the seminary tend to be very prayerful and very committed to serving the Church. They desire to maintain good, healthy relationships and are serious in their studies. They tend to understand the value of celibacy or they are at least seeking to understand it better. Last year, the Diocese of Phoenix accepted five new men for the seminary program — ranging in age from 18 to 30 from a variety of secular work experience and backgrounds. Their love for God and His Church is the common theme. Some of them worked with the RCIA and other parish ministries such as lector, sacristan, or eucharistic minister. Some of the men accepted were working with various teen groups. All of them possess a heart of service and have a deep sense that Jesus is inviting them to follow him. It is this notion of service that springs from their understanding and participation in the Eucharist. The men applying to the priesthood for our diocese tend to come from parishes that model for them the centrality of the Eucharist and exemplify Jesus’ words, "I came not to be served but to serve.” Similarly, the guys who stay in the seminary and continue on to ordination are those who have a strong devotion to Mary and the saints. They realize the importance of the praying the Liturgy of the Hours, and make it a priority. They attend daily Mass and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation on a regular basis. They find strength in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. They seek out healthy support groups and form strong bonds based on their common belief in Jesus. As these men apply to the Diocese of Phoenix, it is no surprise to find out that these men have seen the priesthood modeled for them by their parish priest. Many times a candidate shares that he was inspired by the way the priest celebrated Mass — not only by what he said but how he said it. They are inspired by priests’ sincerity. Many times they can see the peacefulness in a priest’s way of life and they want that to be a part of their life as well. Equally important is the fact that the priest recognized him as a candidate for the priesthood. The priest took the time to invite the young man to at least think about the possibility. Young people are hungry for holiness and they can recognize it in priests and in the way priests serve the people of God. In particular, these men recognize the sacrifice that priests make and see the value of making such sacrifices, not the least of which is living as a celibate male in a culture that does not recognize the value in such a way of life. Priests who share enthusiastically the teachings of the Church, the value of celibacy, and hold the Eucharist as central in their priesthood attract young men to the priesthood. In Pastores Dabo Vobis, John Paul II offers this: In the Church and on behalf of the Church, priests are a sacramental representation of Jesus Christ, the Head and Shepherd, authoritatively proclaiming His Word, repeating His acts of forgiveness and His offer of salvation, particularly in Baptism, Penance and the Eucharist, showing His loving concern to the point of a total gift of self for the flock, which they gather into unity and lead to the Father through Christ and in the Spirit. In a word, priests exist and act in order to proclaim the Gospel to the world and to build up the Church in the name and person of Christ the Head and Shepherd.” (no. 15) Good perspectives, without exception, are attracted to the pope and his teachings. They admire him for his courage and strength as he teaches the Gospel of Jesus. Young people are so hungry for the truth and when they find the Church and when they find priests who are faithful to the Church, who can lead them to Jesus and the Eucharist, they are inspired and God’s call is responded to with generous hearts.
For information about the priesthood, e-mail frkline@diocesephoenix.org or call (602)354-2005. |
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