As I compose this pastor's column, two upcoming events stand out in my mind. Firstly, there are five young men who are about to begin their lives as ordained priests in the Catholic Church for the Diocese of Little Rock. Secondly, I am celebrating the blessings of priesthood in my life for the past 35 years (as of this Monday, May 31). While it's obviously getting harder and harder to think back on the beginning of my priesthood in 1986, I do remember and give thanks I was blessed to work under three wonderful and diverse pastors in my first seven years, Msgr. Bill Galvin (who was the mentor for many newly ordained priests), Fr. Rossi, and Msgr. John O'Donnell. I was kept busy in all of these assignments with a diversity of ministry to people of all ages (except in Mountain Home which had mostly retirees from up North). As a pastor for the first time in Jonesboro, I was dealing with a parish that was land locked and needed more room for present activities and ministries and expected future needs as Jonesboro was growing significantly at that time. Unfortunately, the majority of parishioners at that time were not open to looking outward to a new location for the parish and its school to locate. Then and in the years following, I faced many challenges in the pastoral, administrative and personal sides of my life as a priest, AND many blessings through me and to me from the Lord and his people. I will wait and reflect in this column soon on my 11 years as pastor at Sacred Heart Church.
For the rest of this column I ask for your prayers for God's blessings and my openness to his guidance for whatever time he gives me to serve him and others through my priesthood. I also ask for your continued prayers for all our newly ordained and young priests who are facing some of the challenges I did 35 years ago and more than a few that I did not face way back then. For various reasons the newly ordained, at least in our diocese are becoming pastors much earlier than I did. They are seeking to minister to their flock using new linguistic skills. They are looking at a Church that is declining in membership and some in fervor for the Catholic Faith. Ask the Lord to make them priests who put prayer as "the" priority in their day to day life. Ask that there be a mutual respect between them and their parishioners and a laity that is willing to serve their parish and community under the direction and support of their pastor. Pray for priests and parishes that undergo change when pastors are reassigned. I know that both priests and their parishioners need to pray for each other and let the Holy Spirit lead the way. I have witnessed that in many ways, especially here at Sacred Heart Church and I look forward to more of it in the future!
For the rest of this column I ask for your prayers for God's blessings and my openness to his guidance for whatever time he gives me to serve him and others through my priesthood. I also ask for your continued prayers for all our newly ordained and young priests who are facing some of the challenges I did 35 years ago and more than a few that I did not face way back then. For various reasons the newly ordained, at least in our diocese are becoming pastors much earlier than I did. They are seeking to minister to their flock using new linguistic skills. They are looking at a Church that is declining in membership and some in fervor for the Catholic Faith. Ask the Lord to make them priests who put prayer as "the" priority in their day to day life. Ask that there be a mutual respect between them and their parishioners and a laity that is willing to serve their parish and community under the direction and support of their pastor. Pray for priests and parishes that undergo change when pastors are reassigned. I know that both priests and their parishioners need to pray for each other and let the Holy Spirit lead the way. I have witnessed that in many ways, especially here at Sacred Heart Church and I look forward to more of it in the future!