April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
VOCATIONS
What else besides Mass?
People are often curious about what a priest does all day. It's not uncommon to hear voices inquiring, "Father, aside from saying Mass on Sunday, what else do you do?"
Sometimes I feel ill-equipped to adequately describe a typical day in the life of a parish priest ministering in a busy urban parish like mine: Sacred Heart Church in Tampa, Fla.
Yes, we say Mass - usually, every day. The daily communicants who come through the doors of our 150-year-old church are from all walks of life: men and women who work downtown, housewives, tourists, police officers, students and homeless people looking for a place to rest their weary hearts.
They all bring their hopes and dreams, worries and concerns and place them on the table of the Lord, seeking to be fed with the presence of God's goodness, love and hope.
At Sacred Heart, the celebration of the Eucharist and the sacrament of Reconciliation are much-appreciated and well-attended. I am frequently reminded why they are called "visible expressions of God's invisible grace." It's a great honor and very humbling to be a minister of these special sacraments.
The mystery and wonder of God's grace is always without limit. Sometimes, it's revealed while grieving with family members gathered around the hospital bed of a loved one awaiting death; sometimes, it's transporting a homeless man to a nearby detox center to help him with his drug addiction; sometimes, it's listening to a student who struggles with the social and academic challenges of high school.
The wonder of God's grace is revealed while helping couples preparing to marry to better understand themselves and their future spouses, and by participating with dedicated parishioners seeking better ways to help the growing homeless population who walk our streets.
I dedicate a portion of my time to our parish school. I believe our schools can serve as great tools for evangelization for Catholic and non-Catholic students, when partnered with the Church community and dedicated parents.
As a middle-school religion teacher, I know that if the material I intend to teach is to have any meaning for the students, it has to be presented creatively and be relevant to their world. As a result, my lesson plans often include activities such as sharing in a real Passover meal, painting the story of St. Francis on my classroom windows, performing puppet shows rooted in Gospel parables or engaging the students in a competitive game of "Scripture Jeopardy."
Frequently, I am reminded why children often serve as our greatest teachers, and how God's grace continues to reveal itself in surprising ways. Once, at the beginning of a class, while impatiently telling the students to hurry and get ready for the work we had to review, a quiet voice echoed from the back of the room: "Father Sean, we forgot to pray."
And I'm the religion teacher?
Another special ministry where the surprise of God's grace pours forth occurs at Orient Road Jail. The orange-uniformed, tattooed women who come to Mass are always grateful and appreciative for our time and efforts. Their burdened lives seek answers, meaning and something to hope for. We listen to their stories of sorrow and regret and remind them about the power of God's grace and to never give up.
Some eventually find their way to Sacred Heart to convey their thanks, to share their new hopes and sing out, "I once was blind, but now I see."
Of course, my life as a priest is filled with many other wonderful experiences, but it only makes sense within the context of my Franciscan vocation. My brother friars with whom I live, work and pray continue to encourage, inspire and challenge me to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi.
I am forever grateful for the countless ways God's grace is revealed through them, and I seek always to remain open to how it may continue through me.[[In-content Ad]]
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