Fr. James Farfaglia in Rome: Priests Called to Confession, Conversion and Mission

Cardinal Meisner insisted that the priest must experience both sides of the confessional screen as a dedicated confessor and as humble penitent.  He must patiently dedicate many hours to the confessional. He  must also regularly use the sacrament because we are all in need of God's mercy and forgiveness. He urged all priests to sit in the confessional even if the church is empty.  A dedicated priest in the confessional is a clear sign of God's patience for the conversion of the world. 

ROME (Catholic Online) - On Wednesday morning, June 9, 2010, promptly at 9:30 AM, 4,000 priests assembled together at the magnificent basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls.  After chanting the ancient Gregorian chant, Veni Creator Spiritus, a beautiful invocation to the Holy Spirit, His Eminence Joachim Cardinal Meisner, Archbishop of Cologne, Germany, delivered a powerful and dynamic meditation entitled "Conversion and Mission". While priests from 110 different countries listened attentively, Cardinal Meisner insisted that the priest must experience both sides of the confessional screen as a dedicated confessor and as humble penitent.  He must patiently dedicate many hours to the confessional although many people may no longer go to confession as they should and he must also regularly use the sacrament because we are all in need of God's mercy and forgiveness.  Monthly confession or whenever needed, is a must, insisted the Cardinal.
 
He explained that the crisis in the Catholic priesthood over the past 45 years has been due to the fact that priests are not using this sacrament as they should.  He also explained, with great clarity, that the modern day crisis within the Catholic laity is due to a decrease in the use of the sacrament of confession.  He urged all priests to sit in the confessional even if the church is empty.  Soon or later, people will return to the sacrament.  A dedicated priest in the confessional is a clear sign of God's patience for the conversion of the world, the Cardinal reminded us.  Bravo!  What a phenomenal talk from the Cardinal!  After the meditation, Father Richard Libby, a friend of mine from the diocese of Corpus Christi, enthusiastically turned to me and said, "If these priests were to take this message from the Cardinal seriously, just imagine the impact around the world!" Following the Cardinal's exhortation, there was period of Eucharistic adoration followed by the Celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass which was presided by His Eminence Claudio Cardinal Hummes, Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy.  Throughout the entire morning many priests were formally available for the sacrament of confession.  The Mass was in Latin, the official language of the Catholic Church, with beautiful hymns in Italian and English.  In his homily, Cardinal Hummes reminded the priests of the beauty of their vocation and the mission in the service of the Church, especially for the poor. Most of the priests in attendance were under the age of 40, a clear sign of the vitality of the Catholic Church around the world. Father Solomon Uko, ordained in 2003, is 36 years old and comes from the diocese of Abuja, Nigeria.  He told me in an interview that he loves being a priest and that he is happy to serve his people.  He is the director of the diocesan social services and dedicates much of his energy in feeding the poor.  His diocese is challenged by the on-going tensions between Muslims and Christians.  "They are burning down our churches", he told me.  Father Michael Quintana was ordained on September 29, 2000, the feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.  He is missionary priest for the Saint Lorenzo Ruiz Mission Society.  As a Filipino priest his biggest challenge is how to bring the message of the Gospel to the Chinese immigrants that he serves.  When I asked him what is it that makes him a happy priest, Father Solomon smiled and said, "The daily experience of the love of God is beautiful.  The God that calls me to be his priest, is the God that accepts me as I am, with all of my gifts and with all of my sins as well".  "Daily communication with God through prayer is essential", Father went on to say.  Patience, how to always show God's merciful love to everyone, trying not to make things happen so quickly, to love people as they are and to grow with them, are the challenges that this young priest faces each day in his priestly ministry.  Fathers Marc Stenge and Joachim Widman from the diocese of Limburg, Germany were both ordained on Pentecost Sunday.  They were thrilled to be in Rome for the closing events of the Year for Priests.  They are enjoying meeting priests from all over the word and they are experiencing for the first time the universality of the Church.  Father James Tan is from Singapore.  He is a Jesuit and ministers at a parish.  He was ordained in 2006.  He told me that the secularist society that he has to work in is very challenging for him.  How to help people to not just to know about Jesus but to have a personal relationship with Him is his biggest challenge.  He loves dedicating many hours each week to the confessional and he told me that many people still do go to confession on a regular basis.  -----

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Father James Farfaglia is the pastor of Saint Helena of the True Cross of Jesus Catholic Church in Corpus Christi, Texas.  Father has a hard hitting blog calledIllegitimi non carborundum.  He has also published a book called Man to Man: A Real Priest Speaks to Real Men about Marriage, Sexuality and Family Life.  You can contact Father at fjficthus@gmail.com.

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