Theo 103 Vocation and Mission

Lesson 2 What is a Catholic Priest?

II. Introduction
In this lesson we will study what is a catholic priest and the life, the ministry or the things that he is into.
We will explore on the duties and responsibilities of a priest. We will also include the seminary formation or the
life/stage where a candidate to priesthood prepare his life for his future ministry. At the end of the lesson, you
will be asked to identify the possible challenges/problems a priest encounters in his ministry which you will
include in the lesson summary.
III. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
1. Recognize the importance of seminary formation/preparation and its relevance to the future ministry.
2. Identify the different tasks and responsibilities of the priestly ministry.
3. Identify the possible challenges/problems a priest encounters in his ministry
IV. Stimulating Recall
When you think of priests? What comes into you mind? In your earliest memory, what was your idea of
a priest? Do you have a memorable memory or experience, or memorable encounter with a priest?
V. Presentation of the topic/learning material
Our vocation is a call to love others. Therefore, to paraphrase St John Mary Vianney: a man is not a priest
for himself – he is a priest for others. Just as Jesus called and appointed men to follow Him as His apostles, God
calls men today to lay down their lives so that others may have life. The priesthood is not a career; it is way of
being. It is a life of sacrifice and service because it is the life of our Lord. No man deserves to be a priest. Like
every grace, this vocation can only be accepted as an unmerited gift from God. There is no certain type of man
who is called to be a priest. In fact, God calls men with different backgrounds, personalities, temperaments and
gifts to be priests. What they all share in common though, is the one priesthood of Jesus Christ, serving all
people with the heart of Jesus.

What is a priest?
A priest is a baptized man who has received the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Through this sacrament, a man
enters into the ministerial priesthood which gives him a sacred power to serve (CCC 1592). The ministerial
priesthood is given to serve the common priesthood; all the people of God are called to participate in the
common priesthood (CCC 1546-1547). A priest is “a means by which Christ unceasingly builds up and leads
His Church” ; therefore it is the mission of the Catholic priest “to feed the Church by the word and grace of
God” (LG, 11). As such, a priest is a mediator or ‘bridgebuilder’ between God and humanity; he does this by
participating in the one priesthood of Jesus Christ, who unites God and humanity in his very being. The priest
carries out this ‘bridge-building’ through teaching, divine worship and leading the people (CCC 1592).
A priest offers the ministry of Jesus Christ to us today. When a priest offers the holy sacrifice of the
Mass, it is Christ who offers the sacrifice. When he absolves sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, it is
Christ who forgives. When he partakes in the mission of the Church to teach and evangelize, it is Christ who
speaks through him. When he offers love, comfort and support to God’s people, Christ is truly present with
them. For this reason, St John Vianney explained the priesthood in the following terms: “The priest continues
the work of redemption on earth … If we really understood the priest on earth, we would not die of fright but of
love … The priest is the love of the heart of Jesus” (CCC 1589) What does a priest do?
What a priest does originates in who he is. A priest participates in Christ’s identity as Beloved Son, Committed
Spouse of the Church, Spiritual Father, Head of the Body which is the Church, Shepherd of the flock, and
Divine Healer. In Many Are Called, Dr Scott Hahn explains that a priest is a spiritual father, mediator, provider,
teacher, spiritual warrior, means of God’s mercy, bridegroom and brother. The priest is given a sacred power to
serve God’s people, to lead them to union with God. He does this principally by teaching the people,
shepherding them through leadership, offering pastoral care and spiritual guidance and sanctifying them through
the Sacraments (CCC 1592). A priest can experience in just one day what some experience in their whole
lifetime.

The Ministry of the Priest includes

• Preaching the word of God
• Baptizing
• Offering the Sacrament of Confession for the forgiveness of sins
• Offering Mass daily
• Praying
• Providing pastoral guidance and spiritual direction
• Marriage preparation for couples and celebrating the Sacrament of Marriage •
Visiting and Anointing the Sick
• Leading the community in serving the poor
• Commending their souls of the departed to God at the funeral Mass and accompanying
the bereaved
With all these tasks, it’s easy to see why priests lead quite busy lives! Like all vocations, the vocation of the
priest relies upon the grace of God to carry out what God has asked.
Seminary life
A seminary is the place where men discerning their vocation undertake discernment and formation. Once a man
enters the seminary, the decision to be a priest is by no means final. The discernment process continues as he
begins preparation for the priesthood, especially in the first few years. Entering the seminary is the optimum
environment for a man to grow deeper in his spirituality and earnestly ask God, ‘Is this really what you are
calling me to be?’ Men who enter the seminary undergo a process of formation which has four dimensions:

This formation takes place normally over a period of 12-15 years. You might think that this seems like a long
time! But the formation of priests is a very important task and can’t be rushed. Seminarians experience life in
community, working, studying, praying together and sharing meals and leisure time as brothers in Christ. In
their free time they might play sports, work out, read, or visit friends and family. The friendships they share with
each other are a great source of joy, support and encouragement as they journey towards the priesthood.

Source: What is a Priest: https://www.vocationcentre.org.au/home/what-is-a-vocation/priesthood/what-is-

acatholic-priest/ (Accessed: August 28, 2020).
 VI. Activities or Exercises

Instructions: Answer each question concisely in 3-5 sentences. 5 points each.

1. What is a catholic priest?

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2. In your own words, what you mean by “priesthood is not a career; it is way of being?”

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3. How come a priest is a mediator or ‘bridge-builder’ between God and humanity?

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4. Is it important that the priest should effectively do his duties and responsibilities? Why?

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5. Explain one (1) characteristic of a priest according to Dr. Scott Hahn?

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VII. Assessment Tasks

Task Instructions:
Narrative Summary
Instruction: Write a summary on this lesson especially on the significant things that you have
learn in 200 words. Write your summary in the space provided.
 Teacher’s note: Please include your personal experience/encounter with the priest that
is/was assigned in your parish especially on how he serves the people of God, that is, the Church.
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