In recent months the Church has been shaken once again with revelations of great sins committed by the clergy. Many people have been hurt, especially the victims of these atrocities.
I must admit that there was a moment when I wondered if I really wanted to be called a member of the clergy or even called a priest. For a moment I was repulsed by the whole thought of the clergy. That moment didn’t last long, because I knew of course that although some priests and bishops did wicked things, the priesthood itself is still a great and holy thing. As St. John Vianney often said, “The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus.” A priest is meant to be an alter Christus, “another Christ,” and it is through the priest that Jesus gives himself to his people. Some priests have betrayed their calling, they have betrayed their people, they have betrayed Jesus. But the priesthood is still that of Jesus Christ!
As Vocations Director I am often called to preach about the priesthood, which quite frankly hasn’t been easy in this current climate. But I remind myself that in preaching about the priesthood I am preaching about the love of Jesus. Not only that, this current crisis prods me on to preach with even greater zeal and conviction because it means we need more good and holy priests, we need priests who show us Jesus, we need priests who are saints!
This, I believe, is the conviction of our 27 seminarians. The clergy abuse crisis has disturbed them, to be sure, but they want to be priests who are saints. Please pray for them! And for any man who might feel called to give his life to Jesus as a priest or who is not yet sure what God is calling him to, don’t be afraid to contact me at vocations@rcav.org. We also have a new series of discernment events for men called “Quo Vadis” at vocationsvancouver.ca/quovadis.
Father Rodney
Nootebos
Director of
Vocations and Seminarians
Archdiocese
of Vancouver
