Institutional Context of Ministry

For almost nine years I am not so much fully in touch with my parish. I could only stay there during vacation time. But I still know a little of its activities and programs although I could not guarantee the exactness of what I know. It was just about 15 years ago that this parish started to organize the parish pastoral council. At that time the parishioners had only a little grasp regarding their role in the parish organization and administration. There was a confusion in connection with the nature of the PPC as a consultative body. But this issue was clarified by means of some meetings and conferences to orient the members of the PPC.

The PPC is composed of various committees for the different concerns in the parish. But my observation is that until now the committees and ministries have not yet reached the full mobilizing stage wherein the dynamics of lay empowerment is evident. I have the perception that most of the lay persons active in the church ministries still have the attitude of waiting what the parish has to say or to tell. Most of the lay groups lack the initiative to have a collective plans and decisions and bring these into the consideration of the parish priest. Taking into account this situation, I think what the parish priest can do is to create and atmosphere that would encourage the active parishioners to contribute their ideas and suggestions for the well-being of the parish community.

In the aspect of planning, the parish has not yet formulated its vision-mission statement or if there would be any it should have been published or posted. The lack of such statement could be the reason why it is not clear to the parishioners what ought to be done. They have not identified the common goal/s of the whole organizational system in the parish. There are active lay organizations, ministries, apostolates, movements and devotional groups, but there is no communal effort to synchronize and coordinate well the programs and activities that would somehow go in line with the common (or general) objective of the entire parish in conformity with that of the diocese. With this situation at hand there is no comprehensive pastoral plan laid down by the parish with the headship of its pastor.

Looking at the brighter side, despite the absence of a pastoral plan our parish continues to move on. As of this time we have an active and committed parish priest and assistants with the cooperation of some dedicated lay people in the different groups. These groups could be segregated into the different committees that comprise the so called WESTFLY (Worship, Education, Service, Temporalities, Family Life, and Youth).

The evangelization and formation program, as I see it, could be grouped into three: those given as pre-sacramental preparations (pre-cana, pre-jordan, pre-confirmation seminars); those which are conducted by a particular group for their members and new recruits (seminars, trainings, updating, recollection); those which are intended for the whole faithful community (recollections, re-orientation seminars).

On the temporal aspect as of this point in time the parish is still primarily dependent on the Arancel System and other mass offerings. To carry out its projects fund raising activities are conducted such as solicitations and second collections. During the Christmas vacation I learned that the focus of our parish now is the construction of a new parish rectory. This project entails a lot of effort to gather a bigger amount of money for the completion of this project. To my mind this is a good endeavor considering that our parish rectory is nearly dilapidated. But this project should not hinder other concerns such as the continuing evangelization and formation of the parishioners.

Priests, as co-workers with their bishops, have the primary duty of proclaiming the Gospel of God to all. Thus, the highest priority must be given to evangelization. But sadly, the work of evangelization usually falls on the hands of the laity sometimes with little support from the pastors. Well, preaching is always given during the celebration of the Mass. But it doesn’t suffice if we have to consider the percentage of attendance during masses which would roughly be less than 10 percent of the total number of parishioners. If we have to count the efforts, the pastor would say that much effort have been afforded to the work of evangelization. But if we have to compare the amount of money spent for evangelizing works as against the maintenance and construction of projects, did we spent much for preaching the word of God?

Another aspect which the parish has not yet given attention is the works of charity, especially for the needy. This must be a part of the proper objectives of our local Church. Would the parish include this matter in its plan for the administration of temporal goods? The answer only lies in the well integrated Parish Administrator. May the charitable works not become one of the often neglected aspects of my ministry. Sometimes we get too engrossed with what gives us comfort and we only remember the needy during Christmas. They just become objects of our disguised charity to satisfy the fad being brought about by the season. And I fear that I may only just be satisfied with giving “bundles of joy.” I pray that the Lord may help me anchor my vision of ministry in my heart so that the aspirations which I have written may not just remain in theory but in the future be seen and felt in the actual experience.

A Reflection on Mk 2:13-17

There was a time when i was upset by the rampant corruption happening in our local government. I looked at our politicians as rightly to be denounced or criticized because of mishandling the public wealth. When I heard them talk with empty promises most expecially during elections the immediate reaction would be with a yaaaks or with an ew! These people must not merit special attention.

Dear brothers in Christ the Gospel (Mk 2:13-17) changes my paradigm. Jesus set an example that it is sin that is to be denounced not the sinners. He did not condemn them. He talked and eat with them. Jesus even invited them to follow him. He focused not on the misdeeds but on the goodness and dignity present in every human person. Are we doing the same as Jesus did to our corrupt politicians, to those who are considered public sinners of our society? What kind of pastoral care we or the Church extended to these kind of people. These things are easier to be said than to be done.

Honestly speaking, I am afraid that I may have a hard dealing with the corrupt government officials. It's okey just to talk and eat with thim, but to let them realize that Jesus calls them is not that easy. We have to assure them that the Lord is nor indifferent to their situation. We have to let Christ's presence be felt by these people. And let them experience conversion of heart.

As I said, this task is not easy. It needs thorough preparation on our part. The reason why we need formation. Let us try to reflect on this. Have we made each day in seminary formation an opportunity for us to learn the example of Jesus who comes not for the righteous but sinners? Do we allow ourselves to be formed and transformed according to the Heart of Jesus, so full of compassion and love.

Jesus Heals Peter's Mother-in-Law

When we reflect on the serious problems that trouble humanity today, we may ask ourselves why all this should take place. Sisters and brothers in Christ, the Gospel of today is a reply to human problems. Jesus sees the sad reality of suffering and disease. Let us now try to consider the first part of today’s Gospel. The mother-in-law of Peter is in bed with fever. Jesus approaches her, takes her hand and helps her to stand up; as soon as she is up she begins serving them.

First of all, as soon as they told him about the sick person, Jesus immediately went to see the suffering one. Is this what we behave? Don’t we rather try to avoid such people and the homes where there is suffering?

The second gesture of Jesus is even more important: he takes the mother-in-law of Peter by the hand and “helps her up.” In the New Testament this expression is used for “resurrection.” The sick person lying in bed, unable to move, prisoner of illness, is the person who is the victim of sin or the one burdened with some inhuman situation (disease, injustice, oppression…). One day Jesus approaches this person and raises this person to a new life. The Christian now has the task of repeating the gestures of the Master: to get near those who have no strength to stand and help them out of the unhappy situation they are in.

The third detail (the healed woman begins to serve Christ and the brothers) is also significant. It is an indication that whoever is healed must once more become an active member of the community.

The next scene of today’s Gospel shows Jesus curing all kinds of diseases. If Christians pray to God only for cures, for good health, for luck in life, or good jobs; aren’t they seeking only sensational and material happiness? Jesus did not teach us to work miracles; he did not solve all the problems of the people of his time. He only posed some significant gestures to show us that God is not indifferent to the people’s miserable conditions. By curing the sick, Jesus shows that his coming has initiated a new world from which sorrow and suffering have to be banned. The kingdom of evil, that is, all that hinders a person from being truly human, has been challenged and defeated.

What can we do to foster the creation of a new humanity? Do we need the power to work wonders in order to change the world? What does Christ teach? Let us see: if all people were to love each other. If instead of fighting, hating and warring, we were to combine all our abilities and efforts and put them at the service of our sisters and brothers, wouldn’t suffering, disease and hunger be immensely alleviated in this world?

Personal Context of Ministry

This is a reflection on the personal context of ministry. The reading material “Ministerial Effectiveness” is the springboard of this reflection. This reading material proposed a three-step model to measure the effectiveness of a minister. It involves changes in (a) insights and understandings, (2) attitudes, and (3) behaviors. The article also sees the prime role of a minister as an enables because success in ministry is based primarily on the effect clergy have on those to whom they minister.

As a newly ordained it is still obscure on part to foresee the future of my ministry. The only thing which could be clearer is the person I become due to the years of formation in the seminary. To focus on the future success is still far from my consideration as of this moment. I am more inclined to take into my conviction the statement that “God calls the church to be faithful, rather than successful as the world views success.”[1]

My concern now is how my person would interact with God and with the people. In my own opinion it would start with my cooperation with the grace of God. Effectiveness should flow from the character of the person. This means that first of all I am a witness to what I am called to do mission in the church. The measurement then is not counting how long will I endure in this ministry or how wide will me responsibility be.

Relationship then really matters. How I would relate with God and with his people is certainly a contributing factor in building up my person, as created by God, redeemed by Christ and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Becoming apart or separated from the believing community would really endanger my calling to minister. My experience would tell me that being with the people enhances my faith. I learn many things in the faith of the common people. But on the other hand I have also the duty to uplift the faith of the people. This is a give and take relationship in the community where the presence of God is manifested and experienced through the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Being in the ministry should not be considered as having the same framework with that of the secular world such as business, profession, or occupation where success is measured according to tangible criteria. In church ministry our hope is to attain holiness in union with God as a community. We hope for the coming of the Kingdom as promised by our Lord Jesus Christ. Our effort, then, is to be geared towards the building of the Kingdom of God
[1] H. Newton Malony and Richard Hunt, The Psychology of Clergy, p. 112.

PRIEST AS STEWARD: LAYMAN’S VIEW AND EXPECTATION

This topic was expounded by our three lay resource persons. One of them, a woman, said that a priest must lead the people and set a good example to the people or particularly to his parishioners. The finances especially in the parish must be transparent. The priest has in his power to put this system of financial transparency into practice so as not to create suspicions among the parishioners. This would also be an assurance that the contributions or donations are managed effectively. If the finances in the parish are transparent, the people will also be in all out support to the parish programs. Another point she raised is that the priest should be prayerful.

Another speaker, a layman, talked about the attitude of the priest in receiving suggestions. He said the priest should be flexible. He also advised that the priest must be firm but also be fair. It must be understood and noted that the people have other priorities in life. The priest can also become the bridge between the rich and the poor thereby giving them access to resources.

One speaker said that the priest is held in high esteem by the people. Thus, it is a situation that the power can be used to a very good advantage. The priest can make friends. And he encouraged us if we will become priests that we must be a man of God.

Our present context of the Catholic community still has the esteemed reverence for the priests. This is observable mostly in the rural areas. The people usually have high expectations for the priests. But in the reality, the priest is also a human being with imperfections. The human limitations of a priest when discovered by his people would sometimes cause disappointments. Such displeasure may result to rejection of the priest or worse the priest may be looked down by some people.

Living a priestly life has indeed great demands. In my own opinion, human limitations should not be an excuse for incontinence, but rather a reason to be more watchful and more faithful to the demands of the Gospel. People’s understanding and concept of what a priest should be has moved me to become more concerned about preparing for the future ministry in the parish setting. Knowing the people’s expectation should not give me discouragement but instead an inspiration for me to move towards a better life.

It is also very good to receive feedback from the parishioners from time to time. Through this way the priest can have a check and balance with regard to his performance of his functions. It is also an opportunity to examine one’s personal relationship with the people and with God. Our activity of listening to the lay people about their expectations of priests was an eye opener. Considering the fact that the speakers are practicing Catholics and active in their respective communities, I understand that their expectations are all legitimate. Many of their kind keep the church alive and active. Sometime the priest could have gone in its dull times in the ministry and his works could just become so administrative and lack spiritual vigor. But the presence of the active lay faithful has become a redeeming factor that the church continues to move on.It is really heartwarming, although sometimes frustrating, to hear from the lay their views and good aspirations for our priests. This is a manifestation that the Spirit of the Lord is moving and alive in the Church. The only problem is when a priest would no longer listen or pay attention to the feedback of the people. When the priest forgets that he has to be open as what the seminary formation takes into consideration. But I cannot judge a priest who closes himself. What I can only do at this moment is to learn the values that the lay people have shared. May these values be imbedded in my heart so that when the time comes when I myself will be in the shoes of the priest today I may respond positively to the circumstances that may beset the ministry in the Church.