How has a Catholic Priest Positively Affected Your Life?

[Anonymous]

2008 in a rural city, a good friend came out of the closet at 20 and while he was living with his large catholic family. I had already known and gone out to LGBT events with him. His parents sent him to counseling at the Church with the head priest. A couple weeks after the initial truth telling the priest came up to me and another friend of ours (we all went to this church) and spoke to us about being the kinds of influences our friend needed right now. I got defensive at the idea that we could influence his sexuality in any way, and surprisingly the Priest agreed and told us that it’s our world out there, we will be the future and how we treat our peers will be the new standered. That we needed to protect our friend from falling victim to those who would prey on him and his vunrability, to support him as he begins to find himself. The priest reminded us of the morals and values the church instilled in the three of us and that when we were all confirmed into the church we vowed to protect the covenant with God, therefore we must protect our friend in the church and not let him be outcasted or martyred.

It was a bewildering and profound. Completely changed my views on how religion and politics worked. Because of that experience I am smart enough to know that in the house of God all are his children, and any house that says differently is one that has been poisoned.

[Anonymous]

So many of the younger priests in the Archdiocese of Washington are well-spoken, inspiring young men. I recently watched many of the recent homilies from the Verizon Center Mass for Life and really enjoyed hearing their stories. They inspire me about the future of the church for my children.

[Anonymous]

When I was in 5th grade, we had a stuffy older priest. He couldn’t relate with us. Then the church took on a visiting priest from Nigeria. He was young (probably 22-25) and he was just the best! I remember him kicking soccer balls around with the boys at recess, playing hopscotch with us girls, shooting hoops, jumping rope, whatever us kids were doing. We were just thrilled when he’d visit our classrooms.

[Anonymous]

I am not Catholic or even Christian. My good friend’s nephew is a priest. We were on her porch one day when he was over and we saw some kids taunting a cat (not abusive per se but uncomfortable enough that I was going to go over and say something). He stood up, went over, and chatted with the kids. They stopped harassing the cat and went inside. Some weeks later when I was next over. I saw the kids coming home with their mom. They told their neighbor that they were coming back from volunteering at an animal shelter. Don’t know how a few mins talk with the priest got them started on volunteering at the shelter, but I will take it. His wisdom and grace shine through to me and apparently these kids too.

[Anonymous]

Our priest was genuinely a wonderful guy. He baptized both our kids, was the leader of my husband's RCIA program, and was the main priest at our church for about 12 years. He was outgoing and friendly and welcoming to all. It was the little things. He always made sure donuts were available after Mass, hi-fived all the kids reaching out of the pews as he walked out of the church in the procession at the end of Mass. He knew everyone's name and always went out of his way to great as many people as possible after Mass. He could do some pretty cool tricks (juggling swords and torches, for example) and would always come to CCD to do demonstrations for the kids. He was best friends with a local Rabbi. And one of the sweetest things he did was that he went out of his way to call/leave a message for every parishioner on their birthday.

I wonder if anyone else on these boards knows who I'm talking about. We live in NOVA. He was at our church for a long time before being moved somewhere else. He was really what kept my family coming back to church and made our lives a little better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: 2008 in a rural city, a good friend came out of the closet at 20 and while he was living with his large catholic family. I had already known and gone out to LGBT events with him. His parents sent him to counseling at the Church with the head priest. A couple weeks after the initial truth telling the priest came up to me and another friend of ours (we all went to this church) and spoke to us about being the kinds of influences our friend needed right now. I got defensive at the idea that we could influence his sexuality in any way, and surprisingly the Priest agreed and told us that it’s our world out there, we will be the future and how we treat our peers will be the new standered. That we needed to protect our friend from falling victim to those who would prey on him and his vunrability, to support him as he begins to find himself. The priest reminded us of the morals and values the church instilled in the three of us and that when we were all confirmed into the church we vowed to protect the covenant with God, therefore we must protect our friend in the church and not let him be outcasted or martyred.

It was a bewildering and profound. Completely changed my views on how religion and politics worked. Because of that experience I am smart enough to know that in the house of God all are his children, and any house that says differently is one that has been poisoned.

Love this. Thanks for sharing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, I am surprised that PP above me says they decided to start with how long it has been. That is absolutely standard in any Catholic confession: “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been ______ since my last confession and these are my sins.”

right -- plus the priest is in a booth -- you generally can't see the expression on his face.

Obviously you have not been to confession in quite some time...

[Anonymous]

Was baptized through RCIA. Priest who taught it was very helpful with teaching religious principles and how to read the Bible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The best thing that happened to me was when I was a Freshman in college and had a perfunctory meeting with the campus priest, who handed me envelopes for my weekly giving.

When I declined, saying I'd rather just give without it being recorded, he became stern and insisted I had to use the envelopes or not be considered a member of the campus group. I opted for the latter.

I continued going to church - and giving - for a while - then slowly faded away from Catholicism, its authoritarian priests and its many rules and regulations.

That campus priest helped a lot.

Sheesh. If Catholicism stopped being meaningful to you then just say that. But your faith must have been hanging by a thread if being asked to use an envelope did you in!

[Anonymous]

A friend from college entered the seminary after graduation (I did NOT see it coming!) and it has been really cool to watch his formation and first years in the priesthood. We’ve actually become much closer these past years and he’s one of my closest friends. He says all the time how important it is for him to have friends outside of “priest friends.” He visits often, gets along great with my DH and kids, and is generally just a great person to talk to and provide faith guidance to us as a young family. He recently celebrated the funeral Mass of another friend’s mother (we all knew her pretty well) and it was the most beautiful, comforting thing. His outlook is just different from any of ours and I’m happy to have him in our lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best thing that happened to me was when I was a Freshman in college and had a perfunctory meeting with the campus priest, who handed me envelopes for my weekly giving.

When I declined, saying I'd rather just give without it being recorded, he became stern and insisted I had to use the envelopes or not be considered a member of the campus group. I opted for the latter.

I continued going to church - and giving - for a while - then slowly faded away from Catholicism, its authoritarian priests and its many rules and regulations.

That campus priest helped a lot.

Sheesh. If Catholicism stopped being meaningful to you then just say that. But your faith must have been hanging by a thread if being asked to use an envelope did you in!

Read above -- it didn't do pp in, it got the ball rolling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, I am surprised that PP above me says they decided to start with how long it has been. That is absolutely standard in any Catholic confession: “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been ______ since my last confession and these are my sins.”

right -- plus the priest is in a booth -- you generally can't see the expression on his face.

Obviously you have not been to confession in quite some time...

I doubt very many people who last went to confession when priests were in a booth, would go back now. Anonymity was meant as a plus, not a minus

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, I am surprised that PP above me says they decided to start with how long it has been. That is absolutely standard in any Catholic confession: “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been ______ since my last confession and these are my sins.”

PP ... yes, same difference. I don't remember if I said those exact words or if I just blurted out how long it had been. I DO remember his kindness.

Also, I believe every church I've ever gone to had an option of open or anonymous confession.

[Anonymous]

I think some people posting here didn't read the subject.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, I am surprised that PP above me says they decided to start with how long it has been. That is absolutely standard in any Catholic confession: “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been ______ since my last confession and these are my sins.”

right -- plus the priest is in a booth -- you generally can't see the expression on his face.

Obviously you have not been to confession in quite some time...

I doubt very many people who last went to confession when priests were in a booth, would go back now. Anonymity was meant as a plus, not a minus

You basically have a choice now. You can do confession through the screen or face to face.

And honestly, for many who haven't been in ages, it's more a question of inertia.