It is a wondrous wonderous mystery that an institution such as the Catholic priesthood has endured for more than 2,000 years.
Priests no longer have any human advantage. Celibacy, solitude, suspicion, derision and the indifference of a secular world apparently seem to have no longer need for priests. But to the contrary, people cherish their parish priests.
An older and very wise priest gives us these words:
“The priest is not an angel sent from heaven. He is a man chosen from among men, a member of the Church, a Christian. Remaining man and Christian, he begins to speak to you the word of God. This word is not his own. No, he comes to you because God has told him to spread God’s word.
“Perhaps he has not entirely understood it himself. Perhaps he adulterates it. But he believes, and despite his fears he knows that he must communicate God’s word to you. For must not some one of us say something about God, about eternal life, about the majesty of grace in our sanctified being; must not some one of us speak of sin, of the judgment and mercy of God?
“So, my dear friends, pray for him. Carry him so that might be able to sustain others by bringing to them the mystery of God’s love revealed in Christ Jesus.” — the Rev. Karl Rahner
Coming in 2027
Over the next several issues of “More Good News,” we will be discussing priests who have special connections to our parish. This issue features Monsignor Ronald Bill, who served as interim pastor in 2002. In future issues, “More Good News” will highlight the Revs. John Rose, Joe Salerno, Scott VanDerveer and Tom Servatius.