The Year for Priests: Need for Good Priest Role Models
Posted By Fr. Jim Tucker on October 1, 2009
The Catholic blogosphere has dedicated the month of October, “Support a Catholic Speaker” month. To find out more, go to Matthew Warner’s website: FallibleBlogma.
The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI this past spring announced that the year 2009-2010 as the Year of the Priest. As a recently ordained priest (three years), I find it essential to seek out those priests who have been ordained for a while and who are faithful to the Church and loving Fathers to the faithful.
I could use as my criteria all the academic credentials of a person. I could be impressed that he graduated summa cum laude from University of Detroit. I could be “wowed” by his S.T.B. from Loyola University, or his M.A. or Ph.D. from Vanderbilt. His knowledge of no less than 12 languages could leave me speechless. But does this qualify the person as a true role model for a new priest?
Well, my priestly role model, the one who reflects the Person of Jesus Christ, has all these credentials. As impressive as they are, these are not what puts Fr. Mitch Pacwa at the top of my list. It is his warmth and humor and – well – personable nature. A protestant minister was quoted as saying, “No one will care how much you know till they know how much you care.” That is the quality that puts Fr. Mitch at the top of my list.
I had been watching Fr. Mitch on EWTN ever since he took over the Live show for Mother Angelica. Over time, I began to follow his teachings on the writings of Pope John Paul II on Threshold of Hope. That show, more than any other really reflects for me the essence of a true pastoral teacher, explaining the truths of the faith in clear, unambiguous terms. If I ever wonder where I can go to hear the truth about the Catholic Faith, Fr. Mitch is one of the presenters I’ll go to first.
He has an uncanny way of expressing things in a few pithy phrases:
“When it comes to the Church, I’m the kind of guy who ‘paints by number, stays inside the lines and is happy with the picture’”
When there is a part of Catholic life that is just plain hard to live, he’ll quote his mother with a smile: “No whining, or I’ll give you something to whine about!”
A little over a year ago, I planned my summer vacation around a trip to EWTN headquarters in Irondale and Hanceville, AL, and had several goals in mind: to spend time in serious prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, to spend a slow and relaxing week, and to meet Fr. Mitch. When I told him this, he asked me with a smile, “even though I can be snarky?” I said, “Especially because you’re snarky!” And we shared a laugh!
He told me what he had said many times on the air: “I love my priesthood now more than I did when I was ordained! And I loved it then!” And one can tell that priesthood is a true joy for him. I found that this joy was rubbing off on me.
Thanks to Matthew Warner for this opportunity to show my appreciation for a true priestly role model.
Check out Fr. Mitch’s Website: http://www.fathermitchpacwa.org
Fr Mitch is a great man and greatly enjoyed reading his books such as “Father, forgive me for I am frustrated!”
Robert:
Thanks for following the Catholic Creativity Community.
Fr. Jim