Mgr Furnival, parents and child after a baptism at St Peter & Pauls,
Crosby in 2005.
|
17 years ago when I became a priest I had no idea of the wonders that awaited me. Sure, I knew the basics and the general gist of how things are supposed to be, but what that meant in practise couldn’t be taught in the seminary.;-
- to light up the flame of faith in the family and friends of a child brought for the Sacrament of Baptism
- to help a young person come to know the Holy Spirit more deeply and personally as they prepare for the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation
- to share in the excitement and wonder of children and their families preparing to receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist for the 1st time
- to share with people the awesome gift of God’s forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and experience the Lord’s healing power at work in them
- to visit sisters and brothers who are sick and celebrate with them the tender loving care of our Lord through the Sacrament of Anointing
- to witness the presence of the Lord in the Sacrament of Marriage and Family Life
The list goes on and on! I have no idea how much the Lord has done through my ‘Yes’ to Him……but I do know that it is vast and invaluable to so many. I am amazed at what He’s brought about through little, imperfect me. I am filled with thanks as I see His power at work in me doing infinitely more than I can ask or imagine!
When I was training to become a priest, I was deeply aware of my own inadequacy, weakness, littleness. I felt that I fell far short of what a priest is meant to be, of what the people need from their priests. And I was right……….but the wonderful thing is that very fact has made me a better priest than I could ever have been on my own steam….’my power is at it’s most effective in weakness’ has echoed in my ears for years, bringing a smile to my face in the most difficult of situations because a deep peace descends on me with the knowledge that I’m not on my own……He is with me, blessing His people through me!
Being a priest is not easy but it is wonderful. It won’t bring you lot’s of money but it will make you truly rich. It does involve sacrifice but also countless blessings………
Glory and praise to our God, who alone gives light to our days, many are the blessings He bears to those who trust in His ways! |
My own faith journey started with my baptism in the Methodist Church in 1982, and grew (albeit slowly) towards my conversion to the Catholic faith in August 2001. I believe that my own sense of vocation has grown directly out of this conversion, and is inextricably bound up with it, for it is here that I first encountered Christ in the way that I have understood him during my ongoing discernment of God’s will for me (of course, this is not to say that I never encountered Christ in the Methodist faith; on the contrary, I owe a great deal to my time in the Methodist Church).
Discernment can be a complicated process, and, I find, it is not always easy to do it on your own. Thoughts about priesthood were vaguely in my mind after I first converted, but I recognised that my initial enthusiasm on conversion should not be taken as a sign that God wanted me to progress down the ‘priesthood’ path. However, these thoughts grew, developed, matured perhaps, via a number of experiences that I had and via people that I met. Several are particularly vivid: the help given to me by the Rosminian community in Loughborough, two priests that I met in London in 2001 – Fr John and Fr Jeremy, people that I knew from my undergraduate studies who have gone on to seminaries and at least one who is on a discernment journey towards Anglican ministry, |
and a chance reunion with Fr Jeremy from London after I started postgraduate work.These are just a few of the many events and people, including family, that have helped me get to where I am now.
Looking back I can see a path and I can see signs; I can understand that several of the sometimes difficult decisions that I have had to make have been, I believe, part of God’s plan for my life. The difficult decisions don’t stop, but they can sometimes make you a better person. They do, at least, act as a test for your own beliefs, convictions, and vocation. The Church can help in these tests. The application process – part of that help – might seem daunting, but I have found it to be a very positive experience. Most of all, I believe that God can be a God of surprises. If I think back eight or nine years I don’t imagine that I would ever have believed that I would be doing what I am doing now. But I am very pleased and grateful that I have been given this opportunity. If you are thinking about priesthood, including if you are a convert, then I would encourage you to think, pray, and talk to people (including friends and family) about it. Look out for the signs, and perhaps, when you feel ready, contact the vocations director Fr Steve. You never know, this could be the start of a surprising journey for you! |
