WHAT THE LAITY EXPECT FROM US: PRIESTS

-


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

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THE OFFERTORY PROCESSION

-
Image
THE OFFERTORY PROCESSION By Rev. Fr. Casmir Odundo In many Catholic Churches in our country, I have observed that during preparation of the offerings, the Procession of the faithful, with the gifts of bread, wine, water as well as the monetary offerings (especially on Sunday Masses) is gradually being omitted. In other places, where it is practiced, its significance is sometimes overlooked. It is fitting to note that, strictly speaking there are 4 major processions in Mass: 1.       During the Entrance, where the priest(s) going with the deacon(s) and ministers process to the altar 2.       During the Gospel Acclamation or Alleluia where the deacon carrying the Book of the Gospels processes to the ambo before the proclamation of the Gospel; 3.       Procession of the faithful presenting the gifts 4.        Procession Faithful coming forward to receive Communion. The General Instructions of the Roman Missal instructs that these four processions, “ be carr
Read more

"I WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU AT THE GATE" FR. MICHAEL MUTUKU

-
Image
"We know that we have passed from death to life because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death." (1 John 3:14).   These are the words that came to my mind when I was told about the life of Fr. Michael Musyimi Mutuku, who passed away on the 18th of August 2023 and was buried yesterday, during the feast of St. Augustine at Katoloni in Machakos. I was not privileged to know Fr. Michael during his life. However, the testimonies I heard and read after his death really moved me. Fr. Michael was the only son of his family and he decided to become a priest. At the time of his joining the seminary, he was actually the breadwinner of his family. But he left all that and joined the seminary. He actually received his vocation when he was at the University of Nairobi. Back then, unlike today, very few students would make it to the university and Michael was among them. At the University of Nairobi, and at St. Paul's chaplaincy, he was known as a talented musicia
Read more

BREAKING BARRIERS: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ARCHBISHOP STEPHEN AMEYU MARTIN MULLA'S ELEVATION TO CARDINAL

-
Image
By Fr. Casmir Odundo The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. By the  Lord  has this been done; a marvel in our eyes. (Psalm 118: 22-24) The decision of Pope Francis to name Archbishop Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla of Juba, South Sudan, as a Cardinal Last Sunday (5th July 2023), along with 20 others, could be Pope Francis' way of sending a message to the Church regarding the tribal politics that sometimes find their way into the Church. This follows the elevation of Bishop Peter Ebere Okpaleke to Cardinal, who had also undergone similar tribulations when he was appointed Bishop of Ahira diocese .  When Pope Francis appointed Bishop Ameyu as the Archbishop of Juba, there was contestation from a few individuals who wrote a letter stating , " Under no conditions will Bishop Ameyu be accepted to serve as Archbishop of Juba. " To make their case weighty, the letter also included false allegations to tarnish the Archbishop's name. However, as in the diocese
Read more