How has a Catholic Priest Positively Affected Your Life?

[Anonymous]

We hear so much about the Catholic abuse scandals that have wrought destruction across many communities, and parishes in the US and abroad.
This post is not to take away from the pain inflicted on those affected, but it is to highlight the good there is in our church that is still there.
How about something good that has come from your interaction with the Church? Share a good news story with us.

My story is that I know I would have wound up dead or in jail with out the guidance of the priests in my parish in North Jersey. I grew up in a blue collar town outside New York City. I could see the smoke from near by factories, and the skyline of the city. The guys I saw in my Irish/Italian neighborhood were what I wanted to be. I wanted to be part of a fraternity of criminals. My dad worked construction, my uncles worked construction, my dads friends worked construction, and all the kids I hung out had parents that worked in construction, my mom was a nurse at the VA. I grew up in an Irish household, my mom went back to work when I went into Middle School. I was left with little or no supervision. I didn't want to be like my Vietnam veteran dad all busted up at the end of a day, I wanted to be like the guys I saw during my summer break. I wanted to have nice clothes, and money, they looked clean, and they were always smiling, they weren't dirty at the end of the day with bleeding hands like my dad.

When my dad had a window fall on his head, the doctor also found he got a hernia. He was out of work for weeks, and my mom was having trouble making ends meet. I turned to the gentlemen of leisure to make a little money. They knew me from the neighborhood, and I got jobs like stealing car radios, I was taught how to rob them, steal VHS tapes from the Shop Rite, and how to copy them and make them look like brand new copies, then sell them. I learned how to steal VHS, and other HIFI equipment from Crazy Eddies, and other places. I got paid to throw eggs at immigrants from India, and vandalize their house when they commuted to their tech jobs at IBM in NYC.

For some reason I felt compelled to tell my priest this at confession. He came and talked to me right after. He made me go to his office. NO, no crazy sex stuff. He just said that he wanted me to play soccer for the church team. He called it football, he was from Ireland. I wanted to make money that Saturday stealing comic books from the Flea Market, but I promised I would be there for soccer. After that I was hooked, that priest taught me to play soccer. We didn't have a great team, but I loved going to practice, being part of something that didn't make me afraid, I felt like a kid. MY hooligan friends came to watch me, and even heckle me when I messed up. Later that summer, one of my friends took a knife in the eye while trying to steal a change cup put of a VW. Most of those kids are dead or in jail, I wound up getting a scholarship to Wake Forrest to play soccer.

Those priests never laid an inappropriate hand on me, they saw me as a kid in danger, and saved me from making the wrong choices. My mom did make the ends meet with out my hooligan funds. My dad was never the same, and he eventually disappeared. He just didn't come home one night, my mom never told me why. She passed away from cancer a few years back, so I don't know what happened to him. With out those priests from my parish I don't know how I could have made it through those terrible years. The were my string father figures, and they taught me to be the man I am today, I have a healthy family, I thank god for Father Sean taking an interest in a kid he saw going down the wrong path. He saved me.

[Anonymous]

One of my best friends is a priest. He is an incredible person and deeply committed to helping people in need.

[Anonymous]

This was a really nice story, thank you for sharing.
I can’t say I grew up like you did, and I never had a priest for a role model. Your post makes me realize there are still good guys in the church.

[Anonymous]

I have had a number of priests throughout my life who greatly impacted my life. I worked at the Rectory answering phones and my pastor was one of the most wonderful men I’ve ever known. A good friend entered the seminary from high school and he remains one of my closest friends today. He’s an important part of our family and my teens too see him as such a source of wisdom and grace - in addition to being just a normal guy!

[Anonymous]

Well, my dad was a priest, so ...

[Anonymous]

That was a sweet story! So many kids just need something to belong to. I am not religious, but I absolutely see how religion can be a force for good like this if it is embedded in the community.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

My uncle was a priest and one of my classmates from college became a priest (totally didn't see that coming!)

They are both (or were, by uncle died last year) amazing men who truly work hard to make the world a better place.
My classmate is a high school math teacher now, and I'm certain he's amazing at it.
My uncle ran a drug addiction center for ages.

[Anonymous]

I went to confession for the first time in many years. I thought I'd start by confessing how long it had been. He smiled warmly at me, and said, "Welcome home"

I have continued to have an on-and-off relationship with the Catholic church, but I will always remember that gentle approach.

[Anonymous]

I am no longer Catholic and I cannot the idea that anyone should be expected to confess to man instead of directly to God.

That being said, my contribution is similar to PP’s. I hadn’t been to confession in about 8 years and the sweet, elderly Polish priest just smiled, gestured toward me with his hands, and said “Well then this is a new beginning for you!”

That guy was such a sweetie. He has since passed and is surely enjoying his reward in Heaven.

[Anonymous]

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.”

[Anonymous]

My DH's childhood priest - he considered him a "friend" and he actually married us. It was pretty cool- i was like 4 months pregnant. We wanted to get married at the courthouse. My family already had tix to come from out of town and we found out the courthouse is closed on weekends! So were driving around town looking for a place to get married, wondering what to do. DH said "how about my friend David?" I said "huh?" and he made a sharp right turn into a church driveway. There was a kind looking old white haired guy standing on the steps talking to another family. When they were done, we approached. Father David hugged DH. I was visibly pregnant. We asked if he would marry us. He said "well, come by and see me" and we made an appt. There he said "well, there's supposed to be 6 months of counseling..." I said We have family coming on this date- and he and said "well, OK!" so sweet. I was raised catholic so we were in - It was a beautiful church. It all worked out so well. Our parents were happy, it was awesome. Have not been back since.

[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.”

Confession is a lot more laid back in some places. Some places it's a conversation without the ritual.

[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.”

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

[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.

Face to face has been extremely common for decades. My first penance was in the 70s and even that was face to face.