WHEN YOU VISIT A PRIEST, PLEASE REMEMBER…
That a priest isn’t married, nor will he have a family of his own. No wife, no children. His family is his parishioners. He is a spiritual father in faith to the community he serves. His future is in celebrating the Eucharist at mass every day, listening to confessions, anointing the sick, serving those who come to him for help. A priest may serve a parish only for a minimum of five to seven years. After that he may be transfered to another parish or assigned a different role in the Church.
When you put forward a call, remember that he has a lot to attend to and may be attending to something or someone, therefore he may not be available and he equally needs rest to get going efficiently. He relies on his team of volunteers, staff and the lay faithful. Don’t expect him to be there all the time for you. Don’t get mad because you almost care only for yourself and problems, and sees from a personal perspective; he cares for many peoples’ problems and sees from a wider perspective.
When he dies from stress or too much work, you would only necessarily request for another priest. Why not let him live long to serve you more?
When you give money to the Church, you may be surprised to know that the money isn’t for him because no priest earns a fixed salary. They receive a stipend to meet their basic expenses of food, clothing and travel. They save every penny to go for a vacation and much of the money is gifted by friends, relatives and well wishers as they don’t get paid leave like the rest of us who work. While we work for a fixed amount of hours with two days off a week , priests are expected to be on stand by 24/7. So don’t be angry if they don’t respond to you when you need them. They are humans as well with the same frailty as us.
If you hear anyone speaking badly about a particular priest, please correct that person and don’t engage in idle gossip without knowing the facts. If you have the facts and they are negative, christian charity demands that you go to him.
Normally, when they hear your weakness, it becomes a secret. When we hear about their weakness, they becomes breaking news. How fair???😭😤🫣
Shouting it on top of the roof destroys you as a Christian. If you can’t go to him or help out physically, pray for him. Remember that they are alone and at times would need company. Pay attention to their emotional, physical and mental needs. Accompany them if needed or offer a helping hand or even a lift. It’s not easy to go out alone at 2 or 3 in the morning especially in dangerous neighborhoods for counseling or even anointing someone on their death bed. If someone comes to them at such an hour for help, they have to get up from their deep sleep and still be expected to celebrate Mass in the morning. Who is there for them when they are ill or have emergencies in the middle of the night? Yet they are required to perform their duties because if not them, who?
Remember their birthdays, ordination anniversaries and important events in their lives. Celebrate with them, cry with them. Offer a shoulder to lean on. If they fall, don’t judge or criticize. Lift them up and help them on their journey in life. Don’t be offended if they don’t live up to your expectations. No priest is perfect.
So take care of your priests, remember the ones who baptized, confirmed, married and anointed you. The ones who offer masses for your intentions and pray for you. May God bless our priests through Christ our Lord, our eternal High Priest. Amen.
Credit to Catholic Study Fellowship
#Edited by Fada Henry Charles Umelechi
Truth Series.