EVERY DAY IS A DIFFERENT LIFE

NATIONAL VOCATION AWARENESS WEEK: Every priest is different and we all come with our own strengths, interests and understanding of what service looks like.

Father Brian Kelly is Vicar for Vocations and pastor of the parishes of Saint Ambrose in Latham and co-pastor of Most Holy Trinity and St. Michael’s, both in Cohoes.

People commonly ask what do priests do every day? Most priests would begin their response with a smirk, smile and maybe even a laugh. How much time do you have to answer a question like that? So how do we summarize it more simply?

To begin, of course, we all know priests are men of prayer, with most beginning each morn­ing in personal prayer so that they are ready to lead others to experience Christ through the sacraments. Together, those are the foundations of the work we will provide in the vineyard each day.

Our lives are filled with tre­mendous variety as people call upon us for various needs, where we actively seek ways to work alongside anywhere we can. We shift from leading to following every hour of the day. All with the hope that we can help others encounter Christ through our presence and participation. But most of the time we aim to become one with the people we serve.

Every priest is different and we all come with our own strengths, interests and understanding of what service looks like. For some that may literally mean getting their hands dirty with the people doing grounds work. For others it can be entirely focused on bringing the love, peace and joy of Christ through conversation, presentation or teaching. The list truly is endless for God has always called for variety amongst the crowd of disciples willing to serve as His priests. It is through this that we find the universal love and presence of God in His plan for salvation.

The main question we have in vocations is not just “is God calling you?” But just as importantly, “are you willing to respond with bringing all of you?” That is, the talents, interests, abilities and even personality that help make you … you! Jesus is not looking for a cookie-cutter model for you to mold yourself into. He is looking for men willing to bring the best of who they are today and conform it to Christ more fully.

So to answer the question of what do priests do all day? The answer is quite simple. Jesus calls us to be ourselves. So the question for anyone discerning is are you willing to be you? A new and better version of you! Are you willing to say yes to the variety of ways he is looking for you? Are you willing to be the priest who is called upon for an endless variety of ways to bring him to others? As priests, we can plan as best we want, but the real day takes form in the uncertainty, always in the most unexpected ways, all centered around one question … I am looking for you Father to say yes to the need before you … are you willing to serve?

Father Brian Kelly is Vicar for Vocations and pastor of the parishes of Saint Ambrose in Latham and co-pastor of Most Holy Trinity and St. Michael’s, both in Cohoes.