Hajja Salesjana October - December 2018

24 With God’s constant grace and Mary’s maternal protection I have recently celebrated 25 years of priesthood, a wide and varied experience made up of single days that I consider to be blessings, gifts and challenging opportunities. There was certainly no escape from reality but rather a deeper dive into the core of humanity characterised by the fusion of the seasons of life, sometimes facing four seasons in just one day. No wonder I sometimes end up asking myself whether this is a dream. I have witnessed and actively participated in rejoicing at the birth of a new child brought to the altar to be baptised, the sacramental blessing of a loving relationship, the painful and disturbing reality of losing a loved one, listening and facilitating human stories as they unfold, supporting the addict, befriending the prisoner, anointing the sick, offering the Holy Eucharist, sharing God’s gift of forgiveness, preaching the Gospel of hope; all in God’s name, for God’s greater glory, in the best interest of those whom I try to serve. How I wish that all these wonderful and sometimes not so wonderful experiences could have been recorded so that in my own good time I can flip through the pages of experience, to reflect, learn and draw wisdom. But then again, life’s experiences are better stored in the imaginative world of our memory rather than restricted to a file. In actual fact, my priesthood is not about me, but about Christ who shares with me His priesthood, so that in His name I feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the lonely and pave the path towards healing. Before venturing to be a priest for others, I first need to be a priest for Jesus. An intimate relationship with the One who calls is undoubtedly top priority and the foundation for all of my pastoral relationships. The time and energy that I share can only be fruitful as long as I closely fine-tune into the heartbeat of the good Shepherd whose heart is a spring that never runs dry of the tears of understanding. Accompanying or supporting others need the guidance of the One who knows us by name and recognises our voice. I still remember how impatient I became during my professional and spiritual formation years, thinking that ordination day would never arrive. The road was so long and winding that reaching destination seemed to be an impossible task. Now I look back and ‘In Him all things hold together’ , Col:1:17 25 Years of Priesthood by Fr. Charlie Said sdb