In Praise of Priests

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This is a thread for people to talk about some of the good things about their parish priest(s), or another priest they know or have known in the past.

We have one priest at St. Patrick Parish in Decatur, IL. He celebrates daily Mass, Saturday evening vigil Mass, and two Sunday morning masses. He is also the Sacramental Priest for another parish down the road, and celebrates Mass there on Sundays also. So, on Sunday morning, he celebrates three Masses right in a row-with only half an hour between each one.

Fr. Jeff hears Confession three times a week, makes hospital visits every day, worked as the Principal of the School last year (and is still overseeing much of the work now), and almost always attends the RCIA classes that meet.

Yes, he’s a very busy priest. But he’s also one of the nicest, most understanding and non-judgemental people I’ve ever met. He’s always good natured and never complains, always makes time for people who need to see him, and thoroughly enjoys his work. He was a great influence on my converting this past year.

I hope some of you have some good things- humerous, touching, or anything in-between, that you can share about a priest that you know-even if you don’t know them personally.

Scout:tiphat:
 
Wow awesome idea for a thread!!

Father Trainor kept me coming to Mass long before I knew the significance of it. He served the poor and elderly with his own hands and welcomed everyone equally into the Church. He passed away this year.

Father G. - I don’t think there’s anyone who gets so excited about welcoming new members into the Church. He loves RCIA, teaching (and occassionaly arguing with 😃 ) the newcomers about what the Church teaches, what we are accepting, and what it all means, it is so clearly his calling. His joy during baptisms is amazing. His simple joy in being a priest, in being in the Catholic Church and in bringing others to it, it is an incredible blessing.

Father A. - His homilies are just powerful and his reverence during the Eucharistic prayer is moving. He really has a way of communicating with you what is being taught in the Gospel and the readings and his reverence for Eucharist is something that has really helped me in understanding and really deepening my faith in the Real Presence of Christ.

Father M. - He’s the energy to get things done and the go-getter of the grunt work. I think the poor guy got assigned the Martha part of the ministry by default but he still gives great homilies and he does his ministry with cheerfulness coupled with just enough ADHD to be funny.
 
Today, I celebrated and thanked God for 19 years of marriage with the priest who presided at our wedding. The best part was that I hadn’t seen Fr. Dave in years – like a decade.

He is still the preist I remembered, but more so. I am so happy that I will be seeing him at the masses for my son’s school. I told my husband I spent part of the day with another man – he didn’t mind that it was Fr. Dave.

My pastor is an excellent man, too. He is one of the most wonderful confessors I have had the pleasure of knowing. He is also a TRUE and faithful Catholic shepherd. I am fortunate to have him to teach and inspire our fairly large parish. Even though we aren’t the largest, we have the highest attendance at Sunday Mass. Perhaps our pastor has something to do with that.👍

Thanks for starting this thread. Our preists need more encouragement. I also pray and offer Holy Hours for my pastor.

AMDG!
Mamamull
 
Father Mac! Never says “no” when somebodyneeds him. Mass 45 minutes away because the pastor is sick? No problem. Spend two hours with a grieving widow? No problem. Hear confessions until he can hardly get out of the chair? No problem. Work with young couples who think they own their own wedding and have no idea what Christian marriage is? No problem. Spend time in spiritual direction with odd converts (moi)? No problem! Tenderly coax a dissenting Catholic back into the fold? No problem! Run out in a blizzard to participate in a wake for somebody who never set foot in the door of the church? No problem. If there’s anyone who has earned a “get out of Purgatory free” pass, this guy is the one!
 
There have been many wonderful priests in my life and If I have to single out one, I would say Father “P”. This priest saved my life…

I was at the depths of despair when the Holy Spirit led me to him. I didn’t like him one bit at first…due mostly to his homilies on damnation and abortion…he would get very graphic and since death was one of the things that helped put me into this state to begin w/ (the death of my father) he would have been the last person I would have sought help from.

Well I called the parish to talk to a priest and he answered…(something he never did I found out later). I was so beside myself that I agreed to go talk to him…after thinking about it for a while…I decided to call him back and cancel and I told him why (because I didn’t like him)! He said it didn’t matter that I should come regardless and the rest is history…. He is now deceased and I would ask for prayers for his soul…he was my Spiritual Director for many years…
Annunciata:)
 
I can relate to all of you. I unexpectedly changed parishes about 2 years ago. I went to the new one for 6 months before deciding to officially change. In that time I became unemployed. Although I didn’t know the priest, he was the reason I changed parishes. I was astounded by him. Just what I had been looking for for so long. I wrote to him, explained my situation, and he called me about a week later, still having no idea who I was and said he would like to give me a job. 😃 Unfortunately it never panned out because about a week after that he was given a new post and never had the chance to get me in.:crying: The new priest has no use for me. :hmmm: Our entire parish would like to see the former return. Please help us pray for this intention. We need him back.

sfx
 
My priest is a fine example of a pastor. He celebrated five masses each weekend and five weekday masses. This Lent he moved daily Mass to 6:30 am to accommodate workers and never missed a one. Beccuase it increased attendance fourfold, he said this will now be standard for Lent and Advent.

He takes time to personally teach RCIA, baptism classes and youth because these are the greatest areas of outreach. He also holds weekly Mass at the nursing home and occasionally in jail.
 
This is a sad thread for me. There was one particular priest that through his writtings really helped me to take a fresh look at the Bible and bring out the truths in an exciting way. I never met him in person, but his writting style showed me there were many ways that a good preacher can present the weekly readings that relate to the everyday things that we do in life. His work has been taken over by other very good writters. Sadly, he has been removed from his duties because of moral problems. Please pray for him and all priests. The devil loves to attact a priest. As Fr. Corapi says, " If you want to get at the flock, strike the shepard."

Deacon Tony SFO
 
I praise Frs. Serpa, Cestusdei, Pavone, Corapi. These are wonderful examples of faithful men loyal to Jesus.

Greg
 
Thanks for this thread.🙂

Fr. B. helped me to find balance.
Fr. G. is always there and will hear my confession anytime I ask. Has true RC teaching.
Fr. R. has started a wonderful pilgrim Virgin going home to every school child.
Fr. Gr. has helped my children find the true RC faith.
Fr. M. has helped to build the church through the example of his life.
Fr. W. has taught me the truth on the angels.
Fr. E. always took the time to give me spiritual direction in confession.
Fr. H. held the parish together when everyone was trying to change things.
Fr. D. helped my children with the sacraments when I did not take them to the parish catechism program.
 
Fr. John Hedges has been pastor at my parish for nearly 10 years. He is a wonderful, caring person, and an awesome priest! When he came to St. Stanislaus Kostka, there were only about 300 families. We are up to 1,000 now! We have Perpetual Exposition and Adoration (by special Indult). Our Lord in the Adoration Chapel has only had to be reposed twice in the last 8 years - once because of a blizzard, and once because of a power outage during the winter. During the great blackout of 2003, adorers were there right on schedule. His respect and deep love for Our Lord has shepherded us the same way. He is chaplain for 2 hospitals, 2 fire departments & the police dept. We have wonderful, holy priests come for missions and visits thorughout the year (Fr. Pablo Straub was here last year), and Fr. John is in high demand for conferences. He is the spiritual director for Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in Detroit. We have 40 hours a couple of times a year (just opened one today!) There is a K-8 school with the parish, and the kids go to Mass EVERY DAY! I could go on & on… Here’s an article about him with his picture. rc.net/detroit/oratory/advisor-ncr-article.htm] Link.
 
This one’s for Fr. Scott; so zealous, so Marian, so fervent, so real! Today he shared how while he was still in his revert period he asked himself a question about how he would use the gifts God had given him. He was then a radio broadcaster. He said, “Was I going to continue to use them making off color remarks on the radio.” He obviously chose another direction. Mother Angelica once remarked that she had learned that the word “broadcast” also means to scatter seed over a large area. Fr. Scott in now a broadcaster par excellance.
 
Wow, all of these priests sound like wonderful men. I’m so glad Christ has blessed us with such wonderful and faithful people to lead us in our parishes. I get so tired of hearing all the negatives about priests, it’s so encouraging to hear the great things priests are doing.

Scout:clapping:
 
Our priest started a senior and a junior youth group when he came to the parish. They both meet weekly, go on trips and go on an annual retreat each year.

Last week 144 attended the junior youth group! Must be doing something right!

👍 :clapping:
 
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