The Priest As Empowerer of Catechetical Ministry
Chapter 4
The Priest as Empowerer of Catechetical Ministry (part 4 of 4)

"What Made Me the Priest I Am Today?"

During the evening meal some participants talked about the openness and acceptance that they observed at the symposium. As one person explained: "There's a certain attitude towards the Church. There's a certain acceptance of oneself that makes it possible to disagree at the table without becoming defensive." He said that although some pastors may approach catechesis and other ministries in different ways, the others still accept and affirm what is being done. Because of this, some participants thought it might be valuable for the group to talk about the factors that helped form them as priests. They thought that common experiences in formation may help explain why they are the way they are and why they empower catechetical ministry.

When this idea was proposed to the assembled participants, the group thought such an examination would be valuable. Therefore the symposium schedule was adjusted to accommodate this discussion. Each priest was asked to reflect upon "the most significant factors or influences that made you the priest you are today." After several minutes of reflection, the participants were asked to share their reflections at the table. After this sharing, each table summarized the insights and presented these to the group.

In their presentation, the priests at one table said that in looking for a common denominator, the one thing that clearly came across was the opportunity to expand themselves at the diocesan level, at the national level, and in some cases the international level. Going out of the diocese and being involved with other people opened up new avenues and helped them see things from a different perspective. In addition, all were involved in very long and important support groups that have shaped them through the years--with priests and with lay people. Their families also played an important role in their formation.

A priest at another table reported that: "We were very common. All of us were talking about the same things." There were three areas. The first was an openness to continuing formation, "our original formation and then the continuing formation especially since Vatican II." Next was the pursuit of continuing education. The third area was that of relationship. The participant said this was "something we were really delighted by. All of us spoke of the influence of women in our lives." He explained that this influence helped to shape them and made them more open to people and friendship.

The priests at another table also found a a common theme in relationships, especially those "that have helped to bring out the persons that we are." In addition, several said there were influenced by the era in which they developed. "We went through the seminary at the time of the Second Vatican Council, and much of what was going on the in the world and society in the 60's was quite formative for us. We had liberating experiences, experiences of overcoming, at one point, feelings of rigidity and then opening up to a great liberation. It was overcoming feelings of being indispensable and realizing that we are not the Messiah." Another group reported that in their formation "there seemed to be a search for a meaning, a deeper meaning in life, especially in the areas where religion and life didn't seem to always mesh, and trying to find experiences where religion and life did. And trying to find a new paradigm and different ways of expressing that. Relationships also are very important in deepening. They call us forth." They also shared the perspective of trying to find a new way of doing things as "an adult on the journey."

The other priests shared similar experiences. They spoke of the importance of relationships in their formation, particularly with their families, close friends, and priest friends. Ongoing education was another key. Some spoke of coming to or leaving a foreign country, or moving to a different part of the country as a change, in terms of culture and church, that helped them grow. And some spoke of surviving crises and various events in life.

Reflection
What made you the priest/DRE/catechist you are today? How do these formative forces affect your catechetical ministry?

Catechetical Actions
At the end of the session, the participants were asked to identify specific activities they do with groups involved with catechetical ministry. The people at each table then compared and critiqued their lists to be sure the actions were specific and concrete. This also helped surface some different ideas.

Take some time now to think about and answer the following questions. A sample of responses by the participants appears at the end.

The first part of Chapter 5, Conclusions from The Priest as Empowerer of Catechetical Ministry will be posted next Thursday . For information about ordering this book, please see the Sadlier Religion Catalog.