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Friday, June 29, 2012

Nine

Retreat6
Retreat6 (Photo credit: Annoysius)
On this feast day of Ss Peter and Paul, the two great apostles of the Gospel to the world, I am happy to announce that I have reached 9 years of serving in the priestly ministry as a Roman Catholic priest.

Compared to many other senior priests, I know nine years is rather a paltry amount as compared to 25 years or more. Still, I am just glad to have survived another year and to do this in the Seminary where I am currently posted.

I had a session with an aspirant yesterday evening and was encouraging him to be more clear and honest with his discernment to joining the Seminary and I mentioned that these days, the motivation for becoming a priest is very much different from the time of our father's or grandfather's time. Then, life was simpler and the decision to join the priesthood may be based on duty and responsibility or simply for a so-called 'better life'. Joining the seminary based on those motivations may have also been easier to base on those reasons as acceptable entry.

Today, however, is different. The ministry of the priesthood is fraught with many challenges that can overwhelm a priest if he is not well equipped to face up to the challenges and signs of the times. Hence, a more thorough screening and longer discernment period is conducted before any decision is made by the Seminary to accept the candidate.

As for myself, nine years in this ministry is more than enough to be informed of these challenges and the scars of the battle are the reminders that while I am only human, I am also facing a world that is increasingly, if not, already allergic to God, or the Christian faith is found difficult to hold on to, precisely because it is always counter cultural.

I don't know what will fare for myself over the years ahead, but I will continue to bear that cross which this blog speaks of too and finish that race to the end.
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3 comments:

Young Minstrel said...

happy 9! X3

Anonymous said...

Hello Father Aloysius,

It was good to see you in IHM.

It was better to see and hear you in action at the pulpit.

Your sermon for the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time was well-thought of and thought-provoking.

The succinct point you raised is that there is a leader in each and every one of us, by virtue of the sacraments which we have received.

A sombre reminder that we are intended to be prophetic, priestly and kingly people. A tall order.

So it was great that you went on to proclaim the good news, that God and divine help is always available for us in our frail attempts to be prophetic, priestly and kingly people.

Thank you for the inspiring and encouraging sermon.

May you have many good years ahead.

Elaine
IHM Parishioner

Unknown said...

@Elaine - thanks for your kind words and comments. I am happy that you have been able to appreciate the homily.

So hopefully - in spite of of ourselves - we can still rise to occasion for good Christian leadership to make a difference in our world!

 

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