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An APPEALing interview with Fr. Robert Kinnally,
Director of Vocations of the Diocese of Bridgeport
Many people describe the priesthood as a life of sacrifice, but isn’t it also a life of joy?
Priesthood is a joyful life of walking with people who are tugging at our garments every day. Challenged by the things that crowd their own life, God’s people reach out to their priests for answers, for meaning, and for peace. Priesthood is a life of being present to people at all those key moments of their lives: birth and death and every joy and sorrow in between. It is a life of bringing Christ in Word and Sacrament to people who need healing, love, assurance, and nourishment – and that’s pretty much every one!
Yet it must be difficult to always be available to people—often in their worst or most painful moments.
It is a life where God gives the priest what he needs so that even in his own brokenness and unworthiness he can be Christ and bring Christ to those who are restless, searching for truth, and seeking peace. It is a life that gives life. It is a wonderful life.
Many people seem to have a renewed interest in the power of prayer.
The prayer that literally changed my life is from an antiphon in the Liturgy of the Hours: “Lord, bend my heart to do Your Will.” Once I let God call the shots, I realized that God had a life-giving plan for me: serve God’s people as a priest. We’re not all called to be priests, but we owe it to God and to one another to figure out with God what we’re supposed to be doing. Once we’ve figured that out and actually do it, we will be happier and more peaceful, and that’s a good thing for the world in general.
What can people do to encourage men to become priests?
The majority of seminarians and priests report that at some point in their lives, someone said, “You’d be a great priest!” Often God works through others to bring us to where we’re supposed to be.
If you know a man whom you think would be a good priest, tell him, and then pray for him. But by all means, tell him. If you see in that man the qualities and gifts that would make him a wonderful servant-leader, let him know that you see those qualities. Then it’s up to God and the fellow to figure it out; but in the meantime, you’ve done a great thing for the Church.
How about young people?
Similarly, talk about priesthood – especially with young people who are pondering career choices. By viewing priesthood as a viable career choice, we add value to it. Priesthood is a real job with its share of long hours and average pay. The real difference is that it has eternal rewards – for the priest and the people he serves!
The Annual Bishop’s Appeal supports the St .John Fisher Seminary Residence, a diocesan house of discernment where men live for two to hour years to study and pray about entering major seminary. Vocations continue to grow with 13 men at St. John Fisher in Stamford, two men in pastoral assignments, and another 12 who are in major seminaries. For more information about becoming a priest, visit www.HearTheCall.org .
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