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.
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