Our Priest, Our Friend

I am sure you have heard of parents, relatives and nannies scare children into behaving by telling them “sige, isusumbong kita sa pari” (I'll tell the priest on you) you might be even guilty of doing the same. 

In Church most specially, when children get restless, parents just have to point at the seemingly stern person standing at the pulpit and children would fall silent and over time develop a strange fear of priests.

This portrayal of priests to be stern and strict is warranted by the solemn and serious tone of the mass. Truly, it is only recently that priests lighten the mood by incorporating jokes and funny anecdotes into their homilies.

Even I feel shy and intimidated whenever we get in close proximity with our parish priest, but a recent visit with St Joseph’s Father Troy threw all my worry out the window.

As we shyly came into the parish we found him in a jolly good mood, humming to himself and singing carols under his breath. Father Troy chatted and asked about our prayer petitions like an uncle. The conversation was not constrained but natural – he was the same funny but wise person we hear during sunday services and at the end of our visit he asked us what our birth date was and gifted us with rosaries in corresponding color of our birthstone.

It was such a pleasant surprise and a delightful gift. We felt even more lighthearted and cheery that early morning, grinning from ear to ear.

It was a simple yet very symbolic gesture - the gift reminded me and encouraged me even more to obediently continue my personal prayer time...

... and for all of this May God Be Praised!!!