ONE year into his priestly ministry and Gympie priest Fr El Louie Jimenez is loving it.
Thinking about the joys of his ministry, the first thing that comes to mind is “Mass”.
“It is something we looked forward to when we were at the seminary,” he said.
“Sometimes it is still surreal for me that I am mediating between God and the people by offering Mass.”
The Easter Triduum had been “amazing”.
“There was still a bit of nervousness, of course, since it was my first Easter as a priest,” he said.
But, his nervousness gave way to excitement.
At the Easter Vigil, he presided over the Rite of Christian Initiation for the elect.
“It was the highlight of the Easter Vigil because I personally know the person I baptised and confirmed that night,” he said.
The meaning of Lent had broadened for him.
He said hearing confessions had really opened up the season of penance for him.
“Being a mediator between God and the repentant, I witnessed how God’s mercy and compassion were granted to the person,” he said.
“Honestly, it is a very humbling experience to hear confessions because, despite my own brokenness, God used me as a bridge to dispense His grace of forgiveness to so many wounded people.”
The year was not without its challenges.
He went from being a deacon in Springfield parish, which saw hundreds of churchgoers at every Mass, to Gympie parish where his first Mass was with fewer than 10 people.
The upside was it was easier to remember their names, he said with a laugh.
“Another challenge I faced was ministering to people who do not attend church on a regular basis,” he said.
“I still remember one of the Requiem Masses that I presided.
“That was the first Mass I felt a sense of loneliness.
“I prepared all the booklets for the funeral, but the people were still not responding.
“I shared with my parish priest that sense of loneliness, and he gave some good advice on how to deal with it.”
He said he was still adjusting to being called ‘Father’.
“When I arrived in Gympie, a few parishioners could not believe I was a priest,” he said.
He said some people had told him he was too young to be a priest, but he saw it all as part of the learning curve.
He leaned on the support and guidance of his parishioners and parish staff, saying it was important for priests to rely on the help around them.
He said overall, the year had been a great experience and he was looking forward to what lay ahead.
