Why I want to be a priest

I love being in a parish, because with all the problems and difficulties unique to each parish, every parish I have been in affirms my vocation to the priesthood. The other day as I prepared for the Saturday vigil Mass in Vineyard Haven I was reminded why I want to be a priest. Almost immediately upon arriving at the Church, an hour early, I found people rattling the doors looking for the Sacrament of Confession. The visiting priest hadn't yet arrived, and so all I could do was ask them to wait. A number of them knelt down before the Blessed Sacrament to pray while they waited. Then after Mass, speaking with a few families, and seeing how they were trying to live the faith, and to bring up their kids in the faith. I was impressed by the fact that they were taking time out of their vacation, on a beautiful Saturday, to come to Church. What really impressed me was the fact that after Mass a number of people had waited for Father to greet everyone as they left Church, so that they could go to confession. One young woman in particular struck me as she gazed intently on our Lord Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.

People want to see Jesus, they want to receive pardon for their sins from him, and they want to receive him into their heart. This experience, time and again, makes me long for the day that Jesus can touch their hearts and minds through my ministry.