by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann
Editor’s note: Archbishop Naumann’s column was written before the death of Pope Francis and the subsequent preparations for the conclave.
Fifty years ago this month, I was ordained to the sacred priesthood for the Archdiocese of St. Louis by Cardinal John Carberry. I have invested the last 20 years of my priesthood as your archbishop. A profound gratitude fills my heart as I reflect on the amazing things that God has done in northeast Kansas over the past two decades, as well as on the many men and women whose faith in Jesus has edified and supported me from day one.
A bishop has many serious responsibilities. However, in my estimation, the most important duty I have as a bishop — and have done as your archbishop — is to ordain men to the priesthood.
Its importance is largely a matter of geography and population. The archdiocese is over 12,000 square miles, serving 182,000 Catholics, with a total population of 1.3 million people for whose souls I am responsible. By myself, I can only do so much, but each of our priests touches the lives of thousands, or tens of thousands, or even more. Numbers aside, the point is rather simple: Without priests, there is no Mass, and if there is no Mass, there is no Eucharist.
Later this month, only days before you receive your new archbishop, it will be my great joy to ordain Deacons Will Carey, Cesar Gomez and Dan Mauro to the priesthood, and John Donart, Bob Rooney and Will Sutherland to the transitional diaconate.
Holy orders is considered a sacrament “at the service of communion” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1534). Therefore, a man is not called to the priesthood simply for himself, but rather for the salvation of others. He is called to make of his life a sacrifice and gift for the building up of the church. And through this sacrificial gift of self, the priest also finds his own salvation and fulfillment. Therefore, the priesthood is both a gift to the man who is ordained, and it is a gift to the church, which extends the body of Christ through space and time in the power of the Holy Spirit.
“I will give you shepherds after my own heart” (Jer 3:15). Even in this Old Testament prophecy, we hear that God will never leave us without shepherds. God is ever faithful to this promise. This has been true throughout the history of the church, as well as in my experience here in Kansas City. Shepherds protect, feed and guide their flocks. The sheep would be lost without them.
In addition to the men I have ordained, I have been blessed to serve alongside priests who were already in service when I arrived, as well as many other priests — diocesan and religious, American and foreign — whose shepherdly (or “pastoral”) ministry has taught me so much about what it means to be a shepherd.
This reminds me of a principal theme from the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), that we are not saved simply as isolated individuals, but rather as a people, or even more as a family. Or, we might say we are saved as a flock, gathered into one by Jesus, “the great shepherd of the sheep” (Heb 13:20).
On Sunday, May 11, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, the universal church celebrates World Day for Vocations. It is also Good Shepherd Sunday. We will read from Chapter 10 of the Gospel of John, where Jesus calls himself the “good shepherd” who lays down his life for his sheep. He protects his sheep from those who would harm them, he feeds them the living bread from heaven and he leads them into the fullness of life. Priests have the awesome privilege of participating in this ministry of Jesus as they meet the spiritual needs of their people.
On that Sunday, we will be making our annual Good Shepherd Appeal. This appeal takes the form of a second collection that funds our efforts to promote, form and support vocations to the priesthood, permanent diaconate and religious life.
There is so much that goes into this effort.
Formation (both seminary and permanent diaconate) is much different today than it was 50 years ago. The culture is obviously much different. Those who are entering formation need more time than ever before to “recover” or “detox” from the long-term effects of our American culture. Some of these cultural influences include an instant gratification mentality, a misplaced emphasis on achievement and self-reliance, a broken vision of sexuality and marriage, and disordered interests fueled by modern technology.
It now takes 7-9 years of pre-ordination formation for a young man preparing for the priesthood, at an average of a little more than $50,000 per seminarian per year. Our formation must take into account the fact that the ethnic landscape of the archdiocese has become more diverse, including English, Hispanic, Burmese, Vietnamese and African communities, from inner city to suburban to rural areas, as well as special-needs communities.
In addition to seminary training that runs during the academic year, we also provide summer formation opportunities such as language immersion, intensive spiritual formation and mission activities. For the men in formation for the priesthood, we offer counseling and other health-related services to support a balanced, healthy lifestyle. Lastly, we have an “angel fund” to assist seminarians with any emergency needs that may arise.
In support of the effort to encourage vocations, the archdiocesan vocation office offers amazing programs and retreats to allow young people to “come and see” (Jn 1:39). Programs include Project Andrew, The Master’s Cup, special participation in the Chrism Mass and the Avila “High Calling” program to accompany young men in their discernment.
The vocation office offers a “Quo Vadis” retreat for young men considering the priesthood, which averages over 80 retreatants each year. The relatively new Love’s Reply retreat for young women considering consecrated religious life now averages more than 60 retreatants per year. In addition, the vocation office provides staffing, books and materials to help accompany and support young people every step of the discernment journey.
However, the work is not over once men are ordained as priests. We provide ongoing formation and support for our priests and deacons, including continuing education, retreats, convocations and workshops, as well as an additional quarterly formation gathering for newly ordained priests.
Our priests spend themselves in service to Christ and his church. As a matter of justice, the church should provide for their needs in their retirement, when their days of active ministry are complete. One way we are doing that is through Vianney House, an independent living residence for retired priests.
Our Good Shepherd Appeal also supports our permanent diaconate program. Our deacons assist our priests in whatever ways they are able — akin to sheepdogs for shepherds — and they have a particular solicitude for those who fall through the cracks — especially the sick, elderly, poor, imprisoned and forgotten. Our excellent six-year formation program provides spiritual, theological, pastoral and liturgical formation that enables tomorrow’s deacons to serve all people with the heart of Christ the Servant.
May 11 is also Mother’s Day, and any reflection on my own experience as a priest and shepherd necessarily includes profound gratitude for the love and faithful witness of my own mother. Whatever good that has resulted from my priestly ministry is truly the fruit of my father’s and mother’s vocation of Christian marriage. The work of calling forth and nurturing vocations involves the whole church, but especially families, the seedbed of vocations. I am always so encouraged when I meet throughout the archdiocese young families that take seriously their role as “domestic churches.”
Lastly, I entrust the next generation of vocations to the maternal intercession of our archdiocesan patroness, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Priests, as well as to our secondary patron, St. John Vianney. May Our Lady’s words at the visitation resonate in our own hearts this Easter season: “He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.”
