FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS *

I. What is a priest? A priest is a Christian, a e !er "# the Ch$r%h, %a&&e' !( )"' t" pr"%&ai the *)""' Ne+s* "# sa&,ati"n t" the +"r&' an' t" &ea' )"'-s pe"p&e in +"rship, espe%ia&&( in a.in/ present the sa,in/ sa%ri#i%e "# 0es$s "n the %r"ss in the E$%harist. 1e is a&s" pri,i&e/e' t" !rin/ Christ t" pe"p&e in the Sa%ra ents2 he /i,es the &i#e "# Christ t" pe"p&e in 3aptis 4 he #"r/i,es their sins in Re%"n%i&iati"n4 he an"ints the si%.4 he "##i%iates at +e''in/s. In /enera&, the priest !rin/s 0es$s Christ t" pe"p&e in their spirit$a& nee's. II. What e5a%t&( is a *,"%ati"n?* A ,"%ati"n is a %a&& #r" )"' t" '" s" ethin/ spe%i#i%a&&( #"r )"' an' #"r 1is .in/'" . The pri ar( ,"%ati"n "# e,er( pers"n is t" !e h"&(6 It is the 'i,ine %a&&in/ t" &",e an' ser,e )"', t" "!e( his %" an' ents, an' t" %""perate +ith Christ in the +"r. "# re'e pti"n !( &",in/ an' ser,in/ "thers. E,er("ne is %a&&e' t" &i,e the ,"%ati"n "# h"&iness, !$t e,er("ne &i,es it in a spe%ia& an' $ni7$e +a( a%%"r'in/ t" the p&an "# )"'. III. What in parti%$&ar are s" e "# the ,"%ati"ns that I i/ht !e %a&&e' t" #"&&"+? 8an( pe"p&e are %a&&e' t" the ,"%ati"n "# arria/e, +hi&e "thers a( !e %a&&e' t" the ,"%ati"n "# the priesth""', t" the re&i/i"$s &i#e as a sister "r !r"ther, "r t" the 'ia%"nate. E7$a&&(, Christ %a&&s s" e t" the %" it ent "# sin/&e &i#e. Re e !er2 It is n"r a& t" 'esire arria/e an' #a i&(. 0$st !e%a$se ("$ ha,e this 'esire '"es n"t e5%&$'e the p"ssi!i&it( that ("$ ha,e a ,"%ati"n t" the priesth""' "r re&i/i"$s &i#e. I9. 1"+ '" I .n"+ +hat )"' is %a&&in/ e t" '"? Y"$ $st pra( e,er( sin/&e 'a(, as.in/ )"' t" re,ea& 1is p&an #"r ("$. D" n"t as. ("$rse&#, *What '" I +ant t" '" +ith ( &i#e?* This is the +r"n/ 7$esti"n6 Rather, ("$ sh"$&' !e thin.in/ an' as.in/2 *0es$s, +hat '" Y"$ +ant e t" '"?- An' &isten #"r the ans+er6 Listen +ith ("$r heart, n"t :$st ("$r hea'6 The Ch$r%h $st a&s" !e in,"&,e' in the 'is%ern ent pr"%ess. Y"$r !ish"p is the "ne +h" +i&& $&ti ate&( 'e%i'e +h" is an' +h" is n"t %a&&e' t" !e a 'i"%esan priest. 1e is assiste' in this !( the ,"%ati"ns "##i%e an' the se inar( sta##. 9. Can I !e happ( in ( &i#e i# I '"n-t #"&&"+ )"'-s p&an #"r e? I# ("$ '" n"t #"&&"+ the ,"%ati"n #"r +hi%h )"' a'e ("$, ("$ %an attain a %ertain 'e/ree "# happiness in this +"r&' an' sti&& attain sa&,ati"n ;/" t" hea,en<. 1"+e,er, ("$ %an ne,er !e as happ( as ("$ i/ht ha,e !een, ha' ("$ #"&&"+e' ("$r pr"per ,"%ati"n. This is +h( it is s" i p"rtant that ("$ 'is%ern %"rre%t&(. The 'is%ern ent "# ("$r ,"%ati"n is &i.e&( t" !e the "st i p"rtant 'e%isi"n ("$ +i&& a.e in ("$r entire &i#e6 O# %"$rse, there are tria&s an' tri!$&ati"ns in e,er( ,"%ati"n. T" !e%" e a priest '"es n"t ta.e a+a( a&& s$##erin/. 3$t there is /reat :"( in &a(in/ '"+n "ne-s &i#e #"r 0es$s6 9I. Are "st priests happ( in their ,"%ati"ns, in their &i,es an' in their +"r. #"r Christ? 8"st priests are e5tre e&( happ( in their ,"%ati"ns6 The &i#e "# a priest is a ,er( re+ar'in/ &i#e, !"th in this +"r&' an' in the ne5t. The e'ia "#ten /i,es an in%"rre%t

i pressi"n "# priests4 that the( are &ar/e&( $nhapp(, #r$strate' an' an/r(. This is si p&( n"t tr$e. 9II. 3$t +h( %an-t priests /et arrie'? That $st !e 'i##i%$&t. Cath"&i% priests '" n"t /et arrie' s" as t" 'e'i%ate the se&,es %" p&ete&( t" 0es$s an' t" 1is pe"p&e. The sa%ri#i%e "# %e&i!a%( is a si/n t" the +"r&' that "n&( 0es$s %an /i,e $s the happiness that +e a&& %ra,e. )i,in/ $p s" ethin/ as i p"rtant as arria/e an' #a i&( is a p"+er#$& si/n t" the +"r&' that 0es$s Christ is rea&6 1e is +"rth &i,in/ #"r an' sa%ri#i%in/ #"r. N", it-s n"t eas(, !$t neither is arria/e. The #a%t is, e,er( ,"%ati"n re7$ires /reat pers"na& sa%ri#i%e. An' there is /reat :"( in sa%ri#i%e +hen it is '"ne #"r 0es$s an' #"r "thers6 9III. Wi&& priests e,er !e a&&"+e' t" /et arrie'? S" e sa( "re en +"$&' %h""se the priesth""', !$t the 7$esti"n is, *W"$&' this !e +hat is !est #"r the Ch$r%h?* As sai' a!",e, %e&i!a%( #"r the sa.e "# the Kin/'" is a p"+er#$& si/n that 0es$s is rea&, an' that 1e is +"rth &i,in/ #"r sa%ri#i%in/ #"r, an' '(in/ #"r6 3esi'es, in the +"r&' as a +h"&e, ,"%ati"ns t" the priesth""' an' re&i/i"$s &i#e ha,e 'ra ati%a&&( in%rease' in the &ast thirt( (ears. In A#ri%a the( in%rease' !( =>?@4 in S.E. Asia !( ABC@4 in Centra& A eri%a !( ADB@4 an' in S"$th A eri%a !( CB=@6 It is "n&( in the U.S. an' Western E$r"pe that there has !een a 'e%&ine. Eerhaps the pr"!&e is n"t %e&i!a%(, !$t "ther &ar/er %$&t$ra& iss$es an' ,a&$es. IF. Wi&& I !e &"ne&( i# I !e%" e a priest? L"ne&iness is a part "# e,er( ,"%ati"n, at "ne ti e "r an"ther. It is part "# the h$ an %"n'iti"n. 8arrie' pe"p&e /et &"ne&( at ti es, e,en th"$/h their sp"$ses an' %hi&'ren s$rr"$n' the . Eriests are a&+a(s s$rr"$n'e' !( pe"p&e. This is "ne "# the :"(s "# !ein/ a priest. We are in,"&,e' +ith pe"p&e at the "st pr"#"$n' " ents "# their &i,es. L"ne&iness %an !e a part "# the &i#e "# a priest t"", !$t +hen +e '" e5perien%e &"ne&iness, 0es$s %an #i&& that ,"i', as 1e '"es #"r pe"p&e in e,er( ,"%ati"n. F. D" priests /et pai'? Eriests '" n"t /et pai' in the sense that pe"p&e in the !$siness +"r&' are pai'. 3e%a$se a priest '"es n"t ha,e a #a i&( an' !e%a$se he &i,es a si p&e &i#e, he '"es n"t nee' a &"t "# "ne(. 1"+e,er, 'i"%esan priests re%ei,e a sa&ar(, +hi%h ena!&es the t" !$( their ne%essities, t" !$( an' aintain a %ar, t" ta.e a ,a%ati"n, an' t" '" n"r a& re%reati"na& a%ti,ities. A&s", priests are /i,en #ree r"" an' !"ar' ! the %h$r%h #"r +hi%h the( +"r., s" their e5penses are ini a&. FI. Can priests '" an(thin/ the( +ant #"r re%reati"n an' #$n? A priest %an '" an(thin/ he +ants #"r re%reati"n, as &"n/ as it is %"nsistent +ith the Christian &i#e. 8an( priests p&a( /"&#, !as.et!a&&, s"#t!a&&, an' en/a/e in "ther sp"rts. Others en:"( ",ies, p&a(s, an' rea'in/. S" e &i.e t" +at%h pr"#essi"na& i%e h"%.e(, sn"r.e&, #ish, tra,e&, an' e,er( "ther i a/ina!&e entertain ent. FII. I# I a attra%te' t" the priesth""' an' priest&( &i#e, '"es that t" !e a priest? ean )"' is %a&&in/ e

E"ssi!&e, !$t n"t ne%essari&(. A an $st pra( a /reat 'ea&, &isten +ith !"th heart an' s"$& t" .n"+ +hat )"' +ants hi t" '". I# ("$ #ee& s" e attra%ti"n at this p"int, :$st %"ntin$e t" pra(, /" t" 8ass, an' &i,e a Christian &i#e. I# ("$ are &i,in/ a Christian &i#e, 0es$s +i&& &et ("$ .n"+ +hen the ti e %" es. A&s", /" ta&. +ith ("$r parish priest "r +ith the ,"%ati"n 'ire%t"r. Tr( t" %" e t" 'i"%esanGsp"ns"re' retreats an' 'is%ern ent ni/hts. The ,"%ati"n 'ire%t"r %an he&p ("$ 'eter ine i# in #a%t )"' is %a&&in/ ("$ t" the priesth""'. FIII. I- n"t a&& that *h"&(.* Can I sti&& !e a priest i# I- n"t ,er( h"&(? 1"&iness ;t" !e &i.e 0es$s< is a &i#eti e en'ea,"r #"r e,er( pers"n in e,er( ,"%ati"n. D"n-t +"rr( i# ("$ '"n-t see ("$rse&# as ,er( h"&( ri/ht n"+. )"' +i&& #"r ("$ s&"+&(, 'a( !( 'a( an' +ee. !( +ee., s" that ("$ +i&& !e rea'( t" !e 1is instr$ ent +hen the ti e %" es. 3$t #"r n"+, $se the sa%ra ent "# Eenan%e at &east "n%e a "nth. Repent "# ("$r sins, re%ei,e the sa%ra ents, an' pra( e,er( 'a(. Y"$ +i&& !e s$rprise' at h"+ ChristG&i.e ("$ %an !e%" e6 FI9. 1"+ '"es s" e"ne !e%" e a priest? A#ter !ein/ a%%epte' as a %an'i'ate !( a 'i"%ese, a an +h" +ants t" !e%" e a priest +i&& /" t" the se inar(. In the se inar(, he +i&& re%ei,e the preparati"n, !"th spirit$a& an' a%a'e i% #"r priesth""'. I# he enters ri/ht a#ter /ra'$atin/ hi/h s%h""&, he-&& +"r. t"+ar's an $n'er/ra'$ate 'e/ree in phi&"s"ph( !e#"re %"ntin$in/ in the /ra'$ate pr"/ra in the"&"/(. Se inar( trainin/ an' 'is%ern ent ran/es #r" si5 t" nine (ears 'epen'in/ "n "ne-s e'$%ati"na& !a%./r"$n', !e#"re a an is "r'aine' a priest. 3$t '" n"t &et this 'is%"$ra/e ("$. )"' a&+a(s /i,es $s the /ra%e t" '" +heat 1e as.s $s t" '". F9. Is a&& this e'$%ati"n ne%essar(? It is ,er( i p"rtant #"r a priest !"th t" ha,e a +e&&G!a&an%e' e'$%ati"n as +e&& as a 'eep /rasp "# the"&"/( an' the spirit$a& &i#e. Eriests $st !e at &east as +e&& e'$%ate' as the pe"p&e the( ser,e4 "ther+ise, the( +i&& n"t !e respe%te' +hen the( spea. "# spirit$a& thin/s. E,er( s"$& is pre%i"$s t" )"' an', there#"re, t" the priest. A priest is %a&&e' t" he&p the "st e'$%ate' as +e&& as the &east e'$%ate' t" #in' an' #"&&"+ 0es$s. F9I. What are the 7$a&ities that the Ch$r%h &"".s #"r in a %an'i'ate #"r the Eriesth""'? A /""' %an'i'ate is a pra%ti%in/, !e&ie,in/ Cath"&i%. 1e atten's 8ass at &east +ee.&(, pra(s e,er( 'a(, "!e(s the %" an' ents, an' tries t" ser,e "thers. 1e $st !e enta&&(, e "ti"na&&(, an' ph(si%a&&( hea&th(. 1e $st !e "pen t" the +i&& "# )"' an' +i&&in/ t" &earn an' /r"+. D" ("$ ha,e these 7$a&ities? F9II. I# I 'e%i'e t" /" t" the se inar( t" */i,e it a tr(,* a I %" itte' #"r &i#e? N", ("$ are n"t. 8"st ,"%ati"n 'ire%t"rs a/ree that the "n&( +a( t" rea&&( .n"+ that ("$ ha,e a ,"%ati"n t" the priesth""' is t" /" t" the se inar( an' tr(. It +i&& !e%" e "re an' "re %&ear t" ("$ "n%e ("$ are in an en,ir"n ent +here e,er("ne is a&s" 'is%ernin/ the priesth""'. There is n" "!&i/ati"n t" sta( in the se inar( i# ("$ 'is%",er that the priesth""' is n"t #"r ("$. S" e pe"p&e /" t" the se inar( an' e,ent$a&&( !e%" e priests +hi&e "thers 'is%",er 'i##erent +a(s "# ser,in/ the L"r'.

F9III. Is the 'ai&( &i#e "# a priest interestin/? There is ne,er a '$&& " ent #"r th"se in the priesth""'. It is a /reat %ha&&en/e, !$t it is a&s" e5tre e&( re+ar'in/. When ea%h 'a( %" es t" a %&"se, a priest %an sa(, *L"r', t"'a( I spent (se&# #"r Y"$.* What a +"n'er#$& th"$/ht +ith +hi%h t" en' "ne-s 'a(6