OURS is a sacramental Church, so we need ordained ministers, priests, to administer those sacraments, above all to preside at the celebration of Eucharist.
No priest, no Eucharist. It’s as simple as that.
No liturgy of Word and distribution of Communion by laity and/or religious, nothing, is comparable with the Mass.
The growing number of communities now without a resident pastor, as the number of priests fails to meet the need, is rightly of concern.
The laity, who were returning to their rightful place in the Church anyhow and are doing many more of the things ‘father’ used to do, can take up only so much of the slack.
The Church needs priests and who can doubt the Holy Spirit is calling more than the number who are responding. Why aren’t more men saying ‘yes’.
There is another question: why are men leaving the priesthood in significant numbers? Perhaps in at least some cases it’s because we in the pews have not given them the support we should have, the support and encouragement they are entitled to from us. That’s worth thinking about.
I’ve often felt I would like to go to departing priests and say, ‘Could you please reconsider. The Lord needs you. We need you.’ But maybe our need and appreciation should have been made clearer beforehand.
Then there is also the need for every member of the Church to foster priestly – and religious – vocations. God will provide, but as Augustine of Hippo implied, we have to do our part too.
RAY OWEN
Acting Editor
