Priests
The Constant Prayer of Priests
Father Kurt Belsole 0
The General Instruction on the Liturgy of the Hours refers to morning and evening prayer as the two hinges of the liturgical day. They are what are called the hinge hours, and in a sense, all priests live their days between the two Gospel canticles of these hours, the Benedictus and the Magnificat. These two Read More
Conforming to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Robert Fastiggi 0
The month of June is dedicated in a special way to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, as the solemnity that honors the devotion — held 19 days after Pentecost Sunday — almost always takes place this month. In 2002, Pope St. John Paul II established the solemnity of the Sacred Heart as the World Day Read More
The Priest as Servant-Leader
Father Frank P. DeSiano 0
Stereotypes abound. Some pastors are “memo” priests, who send memos to various people on the parish staff at various times of day or night. Others cannot seem to get through a day without a series of spontaneous meetings with one parish group or another. Some pastors think of leadership as fiscal responsibility and strength, peppering Read More
Leaning on Mary
Father Timothy Gallagher 0
One of my earliest memories is kneeling down with my father as he led my brother and sisters and I in praying the Rosary. Later, during my young adult life as I searched for my Christian identity and purpose, it was Mary’s influence through the Rosary that not only kept me in full communion with Read More
Your Feedback: Preaching
Priest Readers 0
Before we can preach to others we must preach to ourselves. Let your preaching be the result of your own reflection upon what you have learned through your own prayer. Make sure you can summarize in one short line the message you want the people to take home with them. — Father Andrew P. Read More
Tips for Priests Nearing Retirement
Father Robert J. Hater 0
The dazzling rays of the sun enter through the window of a large Catholic church. As I sat admiring God’s splendor radiating through the sanctuary, a smiling, elderly priest walked up the main aisle to begin Mass. He reflected joyful hope before he said a word. His demeanor spoke of a happy priest. Later I Read More
The Priest is In
Father Keith Chylinksi 0
Our God is a God of surprises. Every priest will attest to this truth. At some point in his ministry, the priest is bound to encounter an unexpected invitation from the Lord, who gently and mercifully reminds him that he is in charge, no matter how secure, settled or convinced the priest may feel about Read More
The Priest: Bridge Builder
Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl 0
Recently at a gathering of over 20 priests ordained these past three years for the Archdiocese of Washington, the discussion turned to both the challenges and the satisfaction of priestly ministry today. So encouraging and uplifting were the comments in that discussion that I brought the same topics to deanery meeting after deanery meeting throughout Read More
