Thank you for being a priest

Its Vianney Sunday.

An excerpt from Fr. Anthony Santarita's homily: (Salesian) thought it was worth sharing with a greater audience.

'Nobody complained or felt angry when a parishioner complained, "'this priest is hopeless." That's because in general we believe that our priests are a hopeless lot.

Yet these hopeless men are the ones who baptize us, solemnize our marriages and bless us when we are laid to rest.

These hopeless men are teaching our children in schools and colleges as principals and teachers.

These hopeless men go out to jungles and poor towns working for the poor and marginalized.

These hopeless men give up their lives to stand up for justice.

These hopeless men seek to build churches and form small  Christian communities where there are none.

These hopeless men work continuously to go at any hour to give the last sacrament to the sick and dying.

These hopeless men are someone's brother, son, nephew and grandchild. These hopeless men need to be understood when they have to make tough decisions, cared for when they're sick, forgiven when they make they make mistakes after all they're human like everyone else.

And so to modify Vodafone's ad - "Kyunki har friend zaroori hota hain"- (meaning because every friend is important) - we can say "kyunki har priest zaroori hota hain"- (meaning because every priest is important).'



So happy Vianney Sunday priests- You are loved and remembered wherever you are.



A shoutout to Fr Vic at Our Lady Victorius, Prague (OCD) and Fr Benji  St Peter's, Bandra (SJ).



Cheers