In case you were wondering, priests really do work more than just Sundays.
I know some people think we celebrate Masses, give a few homilies, and our work is done for the week. Preaching well requires work – prayer, study, and reflection – but there is much more to a priest’s ministry than what happens on Sunday.
Every day, priests accompany people through some of the most important moments of their lives. We celebrate funerals, weddings and baptisms. We help couples prepare for marriage and parents prepare for their children's baptisms. We spend time with those struggling with their marriages, families, jobs, or other areas of life who seek our help.
Downtime can be rare, and I am grateful that this summer gave me a welcome opportunity to recharge, renew, and reflect on the incredible blessing it is to be a priest. As we return to work and school and prepare to get busier again, I think there’s another question worth asking.
Who takes care of priests?
We try to take care of one another as best we can, but we also need the love and support of the laity.
Like everyone else, priests need friendship, encouragement, prayer, and community. We need opportunities to step away from the daily demands of ministry, to reflect on our vocation, and to renew our relationship with the Lord and one another.
Our archdiocese provides several opportunities throughout the year for priests to gather. We have our annual convocation in the fall, the Chrism Mass during Holy Week, celebrations of priestly anniversaries and ordinations, and other occasions when priests come together in prayer and fellowship. Smaller groups of priests also gather regularly for friendship and support.
There are only a handful of these occasions throughout the year, but they are important. We need to be refreshed. We need to be renewed. We need to be energized and spiritually strengthened to go out and minister to all of you. We minister to you, and we appreciate more than you know how you minister to us.
One of the great blessings of my 53 years as a priest is the people who have accompanied me along the way. Most of my best friends are lay people, and I depend on them for support, help, and love.
My large family (I’m one of 13 children) taught me from an early age about the importance of being a brother, a sister, and a friend, and having people in your life who can help you along the way. Camaraderie is an important part of the spiritual journey we are all on together, and I am grateful to be part of that journey with you.
Throughout my priesthood, I made it my mission to say “yes” to people whenever possible, and “no” only when I have to. As we begin a new season of ministry, I pray that we priests will have the energy and strength to find ways to say yes to those we are called to serve — to your needs, your concerns, and your requests.
I also pray that you will join us in saying “yes” as often as you can. When your priests ask for help with various missions, ministries, and the needs of your parish, I hope you will find ways to say yes as best as you can. We need your help, prayers, and participation.
We all have roles to play in God’s plan. Those roles come together in service to one another, to our parishes, and especially to those most in need. By supporting and serving each other, we build up our communities, the Church, and God’s kingdom here on earth.
We need each other. Together, let’s say “yes” to the work God has given us to do.
(Msgr. John Enzler serves as the mission advocate of Catholic Charities of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington and is a chaplain at his alma mater, St. John’s College High School in Washington. He writes the Faith in Action column for the archdiocese’s Catholic Standard and Spanish-language El Pregonero newspapers and websites.)
