May our new priests inspire us in our lives of faith

What will the Church look like once the pandemic ends and life begins to normalize? What will the lasting effects of the pandemic be on all of us?

This year, the Archdiocese of Newark is blessed to ordain five new priests. They will certainly not have the answers to those questions, nor will they be the solution. However, it is through them that Jesus Christ will console us yet again.

In every age since Christ founded the Church and established His priesthood, there has been a need for something “constant” in our lives as we live in an ever-changing world. Amidst every war, plague, political uprising, or period of economic instability, Christ has provided us with this “constant” through His priests that give their lives away to minister to those who desire Him.

Jesus Christ, the Eternal High Priest, is made present every day on our altars and remains in every Tabernacle, waiting for us. He desires to nourish us when we feel we’ve got nothing left.  His merciful heart remains ready to forgive in the confessional. He desires to lift us out of shame from our sin when we feel we no longer deserve His Love. His healing hand reaches out to us through the anointing of the sick. He desires to give us hope when we are in despair. All of this is accomplished every day through His ministerial priesthood.

Let us pray that these newly ordained priests inspire us in our lives of faith after the pandemic. As they administer to the faithful the eternal “constant” of His grace, may the lasting effect of their ministry be greater unity within the Archdiocese in Christ. Let us pray for them, that they may grow in holiness to fulfill this sacred office, and be the living reminder that Jesus is always with us.

Father Eugenio de la Rama is the Director of the Office of Priestly Vocations for the Archdiocese of Newark.