What a Week!
The deacons of the parish will be preaching this week, so I will not be posting a homily nor a podcast this week. It some ways it is a bit of a relief because it has been a very busy week.
I think it was a record week for funerals, at least since I have been assigned here. We had seven funerals this week. Now, the pastor and I joke about the one effect of the merger has been an increase number of funerals, that “people are dying to get out of here.” We averaged three funerals per week the first year of the merger, and I think we are going to beat that this year. But seven in one week is really a lot.
The priest who is in residence at the parish, who is a big help with Masses, is away on business (some kind of Canon Law conference), so it is just the pastor and me. Yesterday I had three Masses in a row: the regular 8 a.m. Mass, then the 9:30 a.m. funeral (very sad, the woman was only 44, married with children), and then the 11 a.m. funeral. I then went from the cemetery to our school to lead the children in the Stations of the Cross. I am very impressed with how our school has really tried to instill some of the traditional devotions in the students.  After that morning and early afternoon I was tired.
I capped off the night with dinner at a friend’s house with his family. I think I met this family my first week in the parish where I was first a deacon. Their three children were much smaller then. That is one of the joys of priesthood, seeing families grow, seeing the children reach the different milestones, especially the sacraments. This is a very good family, raising the children with a deep love for Christ and the Church. I have gotten to know Russ even better the last year, as he is the executive director of the Diocesan charity, the Mount Carmel Guild, that I serve of the Board of Directors. Like most non-profits, we are always looking for funding. The Mount Carmel Guild does two basic programs: an emergency assistance program (food, some prescription help), and a home nursing program. The home nursing program is really our main identity program. After the acute care runs out, we help most elderly clients be able to stay in their homes. Our nursing aides will help bath them, our nurses check their medications, help them with the managing of that, help with wound care, etc. We are the only agency in the county that provides that kind of service. Unfortunately, even though all kinds of county needs assessments say that this is the type of services that are most needed, no one seems to want to fund them. Lots of people and other funding sources are available for things like transitional house because you can give them tangible results: we moved X number of people from transitional housing to more permanent housing. But it harder to help people see the value of services like helping elderly and disabled people stay in their homes, and not need to go to nursing homes. Combined with the fact that the nursing program requires more skilled personnel, it is more expensive (and we DO NOT overpay any of our nurses; they truly are dedicated women who do this work as an apostolate, they do it for Jesus, even though it means they need to take a second job). If anyone reading this blog knows of any possible funding sources, especially for our nursing program, please let me know. We will ask anyone, as long as they would not be contrary to our Catholic mission.
Today I had the morning Mass, then spoke to the parents of the children making First Holy Communion. I will be leaving soon to say a prayer at a luncheon for another wonderful non-profit (their appreciation luncheon for their volunteers), then I have Confessions, and the 4:30 p.m. Mass. Tomorrow I have three Masses, and baptisms. Plus it would have been my father’s 70th birthday, so I want to go to the cemetery, and it is my sister’s birthday. Busy, busy, busy. Life is good.
One amusing story. Yesterday, after the morning Mass I wanted to run to Wawa for coffee before the first of the two funerals. As I was walking to my car I met one of the sisters who live in the convent. She was talking with one of our daily Mass ladies, so I went over and chatted with them. Sr. Marie was my drafting teacher in HS, more than 25 years ago; she is in her 90’s. After chatting with them for awhile I excused myself to go get coffee. Well yesterday afternoon, a bit after 4 p.m., Sr. Marie called me. She said that it had been bothering her all day, that she had not invited me into the convent for coffee (the parish has 2 churches in which we celebrate Mass, and the convent is at the one that is several miles from the campus where the rectory is), so she was calling to apologize. I told her that no apology was necessary, and she should not fret one more second about it. She is such a pious woman of God.
March 25th, 2007 at 6:59 am
Father, I imagine there are more than a few men who are discerning a possible vocation to the priesthood that are inspired by your words on this blog. In that light, I hope you won’t mind if I ask a couple of questions. (I’ve always trusted you.)
Would it be foolish for a Catholic man to think that he is possibly being called to the priesthood when there exists in his background a canonical impediment that would prevent him from ever receiving the sacrament of Holy Orders? (e.g., Paying for his then girlfriend to have an abortion some 20 years ago) Secondly, how often, if ever, are canonical impediments lifted, particularly those reserved to The Holy See?
Thanks.
March 25th, 2007 at 9:22 am
Jim, you ask some good questions. Unfortunately, I am not an expert in Canon Law. Usually a canonical penalty is applied only if the person knows if there is a canonical penalty, and they commit the action anyway. Also, canonical penalties can be lifted. Yes, there is a serious canonical penalty for helping a person have an abortion (excommunication), but there would have to be knowledge that there would be a penalty, and even if the person did know, if they confess to a priest, the excommunication can be lifted (some dioceses reserve this particular excommunication to the bishop, but not so in Trenton).
However, your questions have more to do with impediments to receiving the Sacrament of Holy Orders. The short answer is that it is not foolish for a man to think that he might be called to priesthood, even if 20 years ago he helped his girlfriend get an abortion. It is an impediment (Canon 1041 n. 4) and it is reserved to the Holy See (Canon 1048 s. 3), so the man would need to talk to the vocation director, and eventually probably the bishop. Each occurrence must be confessed, and then if they think that there is truly repentance and little risk of scandal, then they would file the necessary paperwork. I cannot tell you how often nor how long it would take the Holy See to act, but I do not think it would be years, probably months.
God’s mercy always carries the day. I think you know how to contact me, so if you need to talk about this, do not hesitate. I would be happy to put you in touch with the proper people.