Catholic Teens 5-6-08
Hey All—
A frequent question asked by young people is, “what does a priest do all day?” Most young people only see Father on Sunday at Mass—what do priests do the rest of the week? Our pastor, Fr. Louis recently gave a snapshot into a week of his life in the parish bulletin. I think you’ll enjoy it. Likewise it should inspire you to pray for all of our priests!
“Every so often my spiritual director has me keep detailed track of my priestly activities over a seven day period. Ever since being ordained I have been amused at people who ask with deep wonder in their voice: “What do you DO all day?!” Of course, there is also the occasional jerk who asks with a sharp tone confident that the priest has the easiest “job” in the world – show up for work for an hour on Sunday and have the remainder of the week off! This time my spiritual director put me under “holy obedience” to share with you the details of my priestly ministry in your midst during a recent seven day period: nine hours celebrating Masses at Saint Peter, one hour celebrating Mass at an area nursing home, one hour presiding at the Liturgy of the Hours at Saint Peter, seven hours praying in private the Liturgy of the Hours (Breviary), seven hours of personal private prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, one hour of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with a parish group, seven hours hearing Confessions at Saint Peter, one hour hearing Confessions at Pacelli High School, three hours meeting with family members to prepare the Funeral Mass for their deceased loved ones, four hours celebrating Funeral Masses, two hours celebrating the Rite of Committal at the cemetery, four hours dining with the survivors at the funeral lunch, two hours giving public presentations at Saint Peter, two hours meeting with the Parish Finance Council, two hours speaking in Spanish with several immigrants from Mexico who came to the rectory seeking assistance, two hours visiting several homebound parishioners, two hours visiting several parish families in their homes, ten hours of appointments with people with various needs (for example, preparing for the Sacrament of Matrimony, preparing for the Sacrament of Baptism, seeking answers to questions about the faith), five hours meeting with people who “drop in” at the rectory without an appointment, five hours doing paperwork and other office tasks, six hours on the phone returning calls, six hours on the computer answering emails, six hours preparing homilies and other presentations as well as written materials, and finally four hours doing research and homework as part of the National Catholic Bioethics Center program of certification in Catholic bioethics. Now if my math is correct, that was a 99 hour work week (of the 168 total hours in a week). And this does not include the five additional hours of other meetings (at the level of the parish, deanery, and Stevens Point Area Catholic Schools) and two hours of other liturgical functions at Saint Peter that were originally in my schedule but which I had to forgo on account of funerals. After showing these results to my spiritual director, I kidded him that the parish got their money’s worth out of me that week as net pay per hour worked out to be a little over $3.00. My uncle, who is also a priest, is fond of saying: “It’s a great life – if you don’t weaken!” Indeed, the priesthood is a great life and I am grateful to the Lord for such a wondrous gift! It is a humbling privilege to serve the Lord, His Church, and you!”
Saint Peter, pray for us! Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!
Father Kevin C. Louis
==================================================Intentions:
-In thanksgiving for the coming home of a beautiful baby born about 3-4 months premature.
-For a friend’s father—who has scarring on the lungs and whose cardiologist has just given him a month or two to live.
-For the intentions each of you have…..we pray to the Lord. Lord hear our prayer.
Announcements:
High School DTS—Next Session is Sunday, June 1st at 7PM. Join Catholic Teens grades 9-12 from throughout the area at St. Peter’s. “Through the Saints of Yesterday, the Dead Theologians Society inspires the Youth of Today to become the Saints of Tomorrow.”
*************************************************************************************
God bless you!
Phil Lawson
For more information on St. Peters check out the parish website: http://www.saintpetercatholic.com/
Catholic Teens is a weekly email from Phil Lawson to Catholic Teenagers. To receive these weekly reflections, send an email to lawsphil@gmail.com. On the other hand, if you’d like to be removed from this list, please send an email indicating that.
A frequent question asked by young people is, “what does a priest do all day?” Most young people only see Father on Sunday at Mass—what do priests do the rest of the week? Our pastor, Fr. Louis recently gave a snapshot into a week of his life in the parish bulletin. I think you’ll enjoy it. Likewise it should inspire you to pray for all of our priests!
“Every so often my spiritual director has me keep detailed track of my priestly activities over a seven day period. Ever since being ordained I have been amused at people who ask with deep wonder in their voice: “What do you DO all day?!” Of course, there is also the occasional jerk who asks with a sharp tone confident that the priest has the easiest “job” in the world – show up for work for an hour on Sunday and have the remainder of the week off! This time my spiritual director put me under “holy obedience” to share with you the details of my priestly ministry in your midst during a recent seven day period: nine hours celebrating Masses at Saint Peter, one hour celebrating Mass at an area nursing home, one hour presiding at the Liturgy of the Hours at Saint Peter, seven hours praying in private the Liturgy of the Hours (Breviary), seven hours of personal private prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, one hour of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with a parish group, seven hours hearing Confessions at Saint Peter, one hour hearing Confessions at Pacelli High School, three hours meeting with family members to prepare the Funeral Mass for their deceased loved ones, four hours celebrating Funeral Masses, two hours celebrating the Rite of Committal at the cemetery, four hours dining with the survivors at the funeral lunch, two hours giving public presentations at Saint Peter, two hours meeting with the Parish Finance Council, two hours speaking in Spanish with several immigrants from Mexico who came to the rectory seeking assistance, two hours visiting several homebound parishioners, two hours visiting several parish families in their homes, ten hours of appointments with people with various needs (for example, preparing for the Sacrament of Matrimony, preparing for the Sacrament of Baptism, seeking answers to questions about the faith), five hours meeting with people who “drop in” at the rectory without an appointment, five hours doing paperwork and other office tasks, six hours on the phone returning calls, six hours on the computer answering emails, six hours preparing homilies and other presentations as well as written materials, and finally four hours doing research and homework as part of the National Catholic Bioethics Center program of certification in Catholic bioethics. Now if my math is correct, that was a 99 hour work week (of the 168 total hours in a week). And this does not include the five additional hours of other meetings (at the level of the parish, deanery, and Stevens Point Area Catholic Schools) and two hours of other liturgical functions at Saint Peter that were originally in my schedule but which I had to forgo on account of funerals. After showing these results to my spiritual director, I kidded him that the parish got their money’s worth out of me that week as net pay per hour worked out to be a little over $3.00. My uncle, who is also a priest, is fond of saying: “It’s a great life – if you don’t weaken!” Indeed, the priesthood is a great life and I am grateful to the Lord for such a wondrous gift! It is a humbling privilege to serve the Lord, His Church, and you!”
Saint Peter, pray for us! Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!
Father Kevin C. Louis
==================================================Intentions:
-In thanksgiving for the coming home of a beautiful baby born about 3-4 months premature.
-For a friend’s father—who has scarring on the lungs and whose cardiologist has just given him a month or two to live.
-For the intentions each of you have…..we pray to the Lord. Lord hear our prayer.
Announcements:
High School DTS—Next Session is Sunday, June 1st at 7PM. Join Catholic Teens grades 9-12 from throughout the area at St. Peter’s. “Through the Saints of Yesterday, the Dead Theologians Society inspires the Youth of Today to become the Saints of Tomorrow.”
*************************************************************************************
God bless you!
Phil Lawson
For more information on St. Peters check out the parish website: http://www.saintpetercatholic.com/
Catholic Teens is a weekly email from Phil Lawson to Catholic Teenagers. To receive these weekly reflections, send an email to lawsphil@gmail.com. On the other hand, if you’d like to be removed from this list, please send an email indicating that.
posted by Phil Lawson at 10:58 AM
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