What do you love most about being a priest?

Sandra in Sherman

This is probably the question I have been asked most since I became a priest three and a half years ago or so.  I sometimes joke that I am contractually obligated to answer that question by saying, “Celebrating the sacraments, of course!”  

Of course this is only a “half joke.” The sacraments, especially the Eucharist, is what makes the Catholic Church. The Eucharist is the “source and summit” of our faith.  Without the priesthood, there would be no Eucharist. We need the priesthood to give us the Eucharist — to give us an encounter with the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ.

That said, celebrating sacraments, while the most important part of my day, is still only part of my day. There are many other things I get to do as a priest that bring me tremendous joy. Here are just a few of them:

1. Visiting people in their homes. This is my absolute favorite thing to do as a priest. It is difficult to really get to know someone with a brief handshake after Mass. Visiting people in their homes, sharing a meal together, and just hanging out gives us an opportunity to get to know one another.  Jesus really is the model for this — it’s how He got to know people, too.
   
2. Making rounds in the grade school classrooms. If you’re ever having a bad day as a priest, all you need to do is walk into your grade school’s kindergarten class. Your day will immediately become one of the best days ever. Visiting our Catholic grade schools has been one of the most fulfilling parts of my priesthood.
   
3. Accompanying others. Priests are called upon to walk with people in the highs and lows of life. Over the last three and a half years, I have been with people who were experiencing incredible joys and successes, and I have been with people who were in the depths of despair. I recently heard a story about an old priest giving advice to a young priest. The young priest had said that he didn’t always know what to say or do when he was visiting a family dealing with tragedy. The wise old priest said, “It doesn’t matter what you say or do.  When you enter the room as a priest, you have already done something good — you have brought Christ into the situation. What else could you possibly need to do?”
   

The last three and a half years have taught me quite a lot about the priesthood. Mostly, these years have taught me that I still have a whole lot to learn. At the same time, I’ve learned a few things, been surprised many times, and have had some experiences that have shaped my priestly life.

1. We get to minister to people at every stage of life — sometimes within the same 24-hour period. Early on in my first assignment at St. Peter’s in Quincy, I had a day when I visited a dying person in their 90s at the hospital, made rounds in our kindergarten classrooms, had a lunch meeting with a staff member in their 40s, and attended a young adult gathering in the evening. I’m not aware of another profession, aside from maybe an ER care provider, that gets to literally walk with every stage of a person’s life. 
   
2. Every priest needs a priest. When I was in seminary at St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, our Rector would often say, “Every priest needs a priest.” I didn’t really understand or appreciate this until after I was ordained. I have just as much need, if not more need, for priests in my life as I did before ordination. I still need to go to confession, still need spiritual guidance, and still need a priestly presence — the presence of Christ — in my life.  I am forever grateful for my priest friends and mentors.
   
3. Behind every priest, is a group of amazing people encouraging, supporting, and praying for him. This is not so much a surprise, as it is a profound reality that I knew existed prior to priesthood but have so benefited from since ordination. The priest is called to be a shepherd, to be “in persona Christi,” and to lead those entrusted to his care closer to Jesus Christ. All of this is true. But none of this can be accomplished without the encouragement, love, support, hard work, and prayers of so many. I am eternally indebted to my family, close friends, lay colleagues at my parish and diocesan assignments, brother priests, consecrated religious sisters and brothers, and the wonderful people that comprise our parishes. 
   
4. Catholic events and sites really are the best. I have had the privilege over the last few years to attend the March for Life, the National Eucharistic Congress, our Diocesan Eucharistic Congress, FOCUS’ SEEK Conference, the National Catholic Youth Conference, stewardship conferences, and most recently a pilgrimage with 56 folks from our diocese to Italy. Each of these experiences has deepened my faith, and I know those I have traveled with would say the same.

As we prepare for National Vocation Awareness Week, Nov. 2-8, I hope this gives some insights into priestly life. The life of the priest is a life spent in constant and perpetual joy. Sure, there are tough days and difficult moments, but we get to spend our days bringing Christ to others in every phase, aspect, and corner of their lives. That’s what I love most about being a priest.

• Father Zach Samples is promoter of vocations for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.