May 18, 2003
Twenty Years Later
Felicidades
Manuel!
Manuel
J. Ramos was ordained a deacon yesterday, Saturday, May 17th. We are
very happy to welcome Deacon Manuel to this ministry of service in our
parish.
Our
school
I
spent a lot of time with our school community this week. On Monday morning
I had the opportunity to celebrate a mass with the children who received
1st communion. That evening I attended a wonderful performance of Godspell,
produced by the students of our school. On Thursday night the Parents
Association held their fashion show. Every time I spend time in our
school community I’m struck with the wonderful feeling of inclusion
and care for our children and for one another. If you’re looking
for a wonderful, educationally advanced, creative and supportive community
in which to educate your children, I can highly recommend St. Brigid/Our
Lady of Hope school!
Away
at College?
We'd
love to stay in touch.
To receive the “letter from home”, take this bulletin with
you to college as a reminder to send in your e-mail address. Just Click
Here!
Technology Ministry
If you’d like to give your time and expertise at helping our parish
connect its telephone systems or work on its website, you can let us
know by filling in our
online form
Want
to e-mail Father Ralph?
Past Columns:
May 11: Bows for Peace
May 4: Upcoming Ordinations
April 27: One Heart One
Mind
April 20: Amazingly Graced
Days
April 13: Ashes to Palms
April 6:
God Embedded
March 30:
Pastoral Visits
March 23:
Turning Tables
March
16: Transfiguring Imagination
March
9: Beasts and Angels
March 2:
Lent and Imagination
Feb 23: Sorrow
Far and Wide
Feb 16: Saints
Feb 9: Columbia Lessons
Feb2: Giving At A Difficult
Time
Jan 26: Penny Power
& Catholic Schools
Jan19: Yet Another
Year
Jan 12: Stealing Jesus
Jan5: The Wise Still Come
From Afar
Columns from 2002
Can you remember what you were doing 20
years ago? Twenty years ago this past week (May 14th to be exact) I knelt
before Bishop McGann and was ordained a priest. Little did I know at that
time what turns my life would take -- I certainly had no inkling that
I’d be so happily immersed in life here at St. Brigid’s. These
two decades have flown by so quickly that it’s good to stop for a
moment and see what I’ve noticed about being a priest. Here are a
few observations:
• I have never regretted saying “yes”
to this vocation. If I had to do it over again -- knowing what I know
now, there’s no doubt that I would have eagerly said “yes”
all over again.
• Each day is another “yes”.
The life of a priest isn’t boring because it’s filled with the
chance to bring Jesus to people every day. Whether it is visiting sick
people, meeting with different groups who minister in our parish, talking
with people who are seeking marriage, spending time with other staff members,
reconciling people to God and the church, teaching, writing, offering
spiritual counsel, burying the dead, and especially celebrating the Eucharist
I have a chance to say ‘yes’ to God’s call in a new and
fresh way each day.
• Priesthood is about love and life.
The hardest part of priesthood is leaving a community. That’s because
as a priest I have discovered that my life gets intertwined with the lives
of the people I live with. I get to witness the most precious parts of
life -- when people wed, give birth, get sick, die, celebrate anniversaries
etc. I get to be there. I really fall in love with each community I live
in. So while leaving is the hardest part, coming to a new place is cause
for more joy. That’s how I’ve felt about coming to St. Brigid’s
two years ago.
• Despite the terrible things that we’ve
faced about abuse in the church, priesthood remains an opportunity for
healing and peace.
• Each community “rubs off”
on a priest. I’m different in many ways because of who St. Brigid’s
is as a community. You are transforming me.
• This priesthood is not mine -- it’s
Jesus’ priesthood. I get to share in that in a special way and for
that I’m very grateful. Yes, twenty years later, I’m VERY grateful.
You are Person
