On the receiving end

The Vatican's declared Year for Priests is turning out to be an opportunity for many of you to find creative ways to say thanks.

While I for one find it a bit strange to be the focus of so much attention, there are some valuable lessons being learned as a result of this experience. For one thing, this year is making us more and more aware of the many ways our words and actions (small or significant) make a difference in so many people's lives ... and this is a very good thing because realizing the effect we have on so many helps me for one to understand that what I do and what I say does indeed make a difference.

Tonight, the parishioners of one of the local parishes invited a few of us priests to join them for an appreciation dinner. All the priests who were invited have played a part (either in some significant way or in a small manner) in helping the parishioners of this house of prayer to find God, to celebrate His goodness, and to experience his forgiveness.

Parishioners wanted to say thank you, and so they invited us to celebrate Mass with them, and then to join them for a meal. Each of us was invited to sit with some of the parishioners we know, to spend some time catching up with friends who perhaps we don't see often, and creating new memories by partaking in this night of celebration.

Stories were told of influences so many of us have had on the life of the parish and her members, and a wonderful mixture of formal and informal aspects of this evening made it a most enjoyable moment for us all.

Many people worked very hard to make this vision a reality; to all of them, we owe a word of thanks. It's moments like this that allow us all to step away from the sometimes crazy pace of life, to recognize the people in our lives who help us to recognize God in our midst, and to celebrate the goodness He shares with us so often.

May you be richly blessed for your generosity and dedication.