MONROE — On June 6, 2024, I celebrated my 15th anniversary as a priest, my “quinceañero de sacerdocio.” As I recall, I celebrated a wedding on my fifth anniversary, and my doctorate in preaching was granted just before my 10th. At 15 years, I am reflecting more and more on the spirituality of the diocesan priest.
The diocesan priest does not have any specific spirituality. We do not have a rule of life or constitutions like the Benedictines, Dominicans, Franciscans or Jesuits. Our lives, particularly our spiritual lives, are nourished by the celebration of the Mass, the prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours, the administration of the sacraments, and whatever other food we select from the endless buffet of spiritual wisdom. Each of us is allowed to fill our own plate at the pilgrim feast.
Yet after 15 years, and almost 12 of those as a pastor, I think two selections on the buffet are worthy of a double portion and perhaps a return trip with a fresh plate. The first is presence or, put another way, “and Father was there.” From the baptism to the burial and everything in between, Father was there.
My mom was in the hospital, and Father was there.
I was leaving for college and wanted a blessing, and Father was there.
My family was celebrating, or mourning, or scared, or doubting, and Father was there.
I needed Good News, and Father was there.
From the baptism to the burial and everything in between, Father was there.
The parish priest is blessed to walk the pilgrim road and accompany the lives of the faithful as a welcome and hopeful presence.
The second dish, which flows and folds like swirled ice cream, is vision. I do not mean this as a vision for the future or a vision for programs. I mean that the diocesan priest, specifically theparish priest, possesses the vision to see the Heart of Christ beating in the hearts of his people. It is the vision of St. Barnabas to look around and see the grace of God at work. It is the vision of the kingdom that sees the great multitude of every language, race and nation standing before the Lamb, as St. John saw from Patmos. It is the vision that sees the mustard seed sprout and grow and flourish.
After 15 years, vision and presence surround and support this priestly spiritual life. But, of course, these are gifts from Christ the High Priest, who shares with His priests, unworthy as we are, the privilege to live and serve and love his priestly people in His name.
Father Benjamin Roberts is the pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Monroe.