WHAT THE LAITY EXPECT FROM US: PRIESTS

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Around four years ago, we received information from our Bishop that three of my classmates and I, were going to be ordained into the Order of Deacons in preparation for eventual ordination into the priesthood. Of course we were all overjoyed. At that moment, we were pretty sure that this is what God had created us for and HE had indeed called us to his service. I wrote to family friends of mine based in Nairobi to communicate the good news to them. And they wrote back. And their email has always edified me since.


By virtue of our Baptism, all of us (Clergy and Lay people) are priests and called to be holy. Together with the lay people, we share a common priesthood. However, some of us have been ordained into the ministerial priesthood which is different from the common priesthood not only in degree but also by essence.

Like all other organizations, sometimes its important to get feedback and views of those we are serving.  It is important for us to know what the lay people expect from us, priests. With this regard therefore, I share the email that I received below, in case it might help some other priest or seminarian. The personal parts have been edited and cut.



Dear Casmir

Thank you very much for your invitation and congratulations on your upcoming ordination as a deacon. This is the first step and hopefully in a short period of time you will be ordained a priest. Let me share with you what the layman’s expectation of a priest is. I know many times priests as well as deacons do not get to hear these things from the laity.

From this other side, what we want to see in a priest is our Lord himself. This means that a priest must forget himself completely, like our Lord and like our Lord lay his life on the ground so that others may tread softly.

From this other side, what we want to see is a holy priest – one who dedicates his time in prayer.

From this other side, what we want to see is a priest who does not get tired of extending the mercy of God in the confessional, in spite of how boring or inconveniencing spending many hours in the confessional might be.

From this other side, what we want to see is a priest who dresses as a priest and is proud of dressing as a priest AT ALL TIMES.

We pray for you: that you become a Holy Priest and so that when people see you, they see our Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

In the road to the priesthood, those of us who are able are under an obligation to help our priests and deacons to live their vocation by our prayers and by our material support.

We shall not be able to attend the ordination but will be with you in prayer and spirit. Kindly also do remember to pray for us and our family.


Comments

  1. UnknownMay 22, 2019 at 1:39 AM

    Wonderful one. Speaks volumes. The expectations are so high for you who are already priests and for those of us in the seminary. May God give us the strength to remember who we are and what we are called to be.

    ReplyDelete
  2. KMay 22, 2019 at 2:06 AM

    This is very helpful. Thanks and blessings!

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownMay 22, 2019 at 3:31 AM

    Thanks for sharing this... It will assist us

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownMay 22, 2019 at 3:42 AM

    Thanks fr. May God help us to be true and faithful to this life that we chose.

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownMay 22, 2019 at 8:11 AM

    Great l like it simple explanation and to the point

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownMay 22, 2019 at 9:46 AM

    Thanks you, indeed you are the best priest who represents Our Lord Jesus Himself, do it well

    ReplyDelete
  7. annahMay 23, 2019 at 2:21 AM

    Fr. the message carries a lot to-date. It is useful to you and all servants God. The writer expounded our thinking as layperson. God bless you in your apostolate

    ReplyDelete
  8. KanogoMay 23, 2019 at 5:21 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  9. KanogoMay 23, 2019 at 5:22 AM

    God bless you in your endeavours Padre.

    ReplyDelete

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