When a priest leads, he can make such a transformative difference. Priests have many roles. They celebrate, they administer, they guide, but one of them is to lead. To help their congregation live with a compelling and powerful vision of who they can be as a community, as a body, to help them commit to that vision, and to align everything towards that. Sometimes the pressures for time and perhaps their own skills, prevent them from realizing their leadership potential. But when they do, they can really transform a community.
The Hispanic community of my church had a part time priest that could only give the church a day a week. He did what he could and was able to establish deep relationships with some families and to encourage and guide us through mass and confession. The Hispanic ministry functioned with the hep of a handful of us and a wonderful sister. A couple of months ago we received a new priest from Mexico. He is able to give us 3-4 days a week.
He met with us, the few volunteers, to learn more about who we are and what we do. He listened to the needs of the community. Instead of immediately start planning activities and creating lists of to dos, he did something differently. He started to give of himself to the core and to educate. We started to get together every Saturday morning for 2-3 hours. He covered with us pastoral letters on evangelization and on communities. He covered the Sacrosanctum Concilium from Vatican II and we discussed the importance and sacredness of liturgy. Although he prepared and lead the discussions, we had real discussions and learned about each other and the Church. Little by little the core group has increased in size and it's now 15 people, many of them couples. You can feel the fire of the Holy Spirit beginning to stir in our hearts as a group. Yesterday we finished our meeting with a potluck with all our families and kids, while the priest entertained us playing guitar and singing fun "party" songs.
Before you know it, wonderful ministries will emerge, not because "Father said so," but because as a people we will be moved to act with faith. How wonderful when a priest leads! May God bless priests and leaders everywhere!
Technorati Tags: Servant-Leadership
Hector,
I pray you and your family will have a very Blessed Christmas this year.
Posted by: Marie Cecile | December 24, 2006 at 08:17 PM
It's awesome to read this Hector. When God's Spirit moves lives are changed. What a blessing to be part of this move of God in your community.
Blessings to you and your family. And on your consultancy business too.
Posted by: Lorna | December 27, 2006 at 12:15 PM
Thanks Marie-Cecille and Lorna!
Posted by: Hector | December 28, 2006 at 12:00 PM
This sounds lovely and is similar to our church. It is difficult to have communion without community, isn't it?
Many blessings, Hector!
Posted by: Renee | December 29, 2006 at 11:04 PM
May God bless you, your family, and your business in the New Year, Hector!
Posted by: patti | December 31, 2006 at 06:28 PM
patti, Renee, Lorna, and Marie Cecile, thanks for your comments and Happy New Year!
Posted by: Hector | January 01, 2007 at 09:16 PM