The confusion is over

People now realize how important priests are for life of the church

By RENATO GANDIA
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

So when asked what makes a good priest he said, "Somebody who is Christ-like."

A man, who has the mind and heart of Christ, the shepherd and one who really wants to give himself fully to Christ and to the Church in service, is what makes a good priest, Craig told the WCR.

"A person with deep intimacy with the Lord Jesus that shows itself in a life of prayer, of immersion in the word of God and a deep love of the Eucharist," he added.

He carefully noted such intimate relationship with Christ is something that grows during the time in the seminary. "And that is what a candidate to the priesthood has to aspire for and desire."

But aside from the spiritual qualities, candidates to the priesthood must also possess human, intellectual and pastoral qualities.

Human qualities like leadership, good Christian and a virtuous life are also sought as well as a capacity for studies and understanding the faith in order to be able to preach and teach.

Pastoral gifts may not always be evident in a candidate. That's why the seminary provides a year of pastoral internship during which the seminarian is assigned in a parish to get hands-on experience in full time ministry.

"Ability to teach, preach and work with people is key, to shepherd them and to work with them," explained Craig, who is St. Joseph's vice-rector.

Where a candidate is deficient, the seminary provides help to address such area of growth.

Deficiency in academics is made up for by having a faculty adviser, by having a special tutorial in the case of students, who may require them.

Difficulties in the pastoral aspect are made up for by an ongoing apostolate throughout the years in the seminary aside from the year of pastoral internship. And sometimes, such a pastoral year is prolonged if a seminarian needs more experience before being ordained.

If someone has some personal issues, the seminary provides a human formation program as well, which is ongoing, with the help of the Redemptorist Centre for Growth.

"Our seminarians are helped to address the various dimensions of their own person and to realize what strength they bring to ministry."

Greater diversity among seminarians today is more evident than 20 years ago. More and more seminarians come from other countries.

There is also a greater diversity in ages and background because a lot of seminarians come to the seminary after having done many different things in their lives.

For some it is the second career or even third.

"We went through a period of time, a confused period, in which we thought that if we promoted the priesthood, we were taking away from other ministries." - Fr. Shayne Craig

"So they bring very rich experience to the community or emotional baggage sometimes, which can be a good growth point," said Craig, who is from Victoria.

Craig's group at the seminary when he was in formation was different. Most of his colleagues after graduating high school went to the university and then to the seminary.

He describes his group as "more or less homogenous" but lacking in work experience. "We didn't have a lot of work experience. We didn't have a lot of relational experience."

In terms of response to formation, Craig finds the seminarians today "have a great desire . . . to really be in the heart of the Church."

"They want to be one with Christ, to be one with the Church in every possible way. So I think they have a certain amount of focus, which is very helpful."

He finds the seminarians very receptive in formation.

"They want spiritual formation, they want time in prayer, they want time in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, they want to learn about the tradition of the Church."

He observed a great deal of openness and intense search to really know Christ and the Church.

Craig is convinced such intense response emanates from the radical choice the seminarians are making in choosing the priesthood.

"A lot of people find it incomprehensible that these men would choose the priesthood in spite of the celibacy they also have to embrace," he said.

In a way, these men's choice is counter-cultural.

Such realities were also present during his time as a seminarian. But he said it was not as intense then as now.

Before, priesthood had a certain kind of respectability and presence within the community. However, if such respectability and presence still remain, they are diminished.

With the Church turning her heart and mind towards youth in a very decisive way, Craig believes there will be an upsurge of vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

People are beginning to realize that the ministerial priesthood exists and builds up all the other ministries and charisms in the Church, he said.

That's why the people of God in the parishes are crying for priests. They support the priesthood in many different ways because they want them, Craig said.

"There is a mobilization within the Church in support of the priestly ministry because the people see how important and crucial priesthood is for the growth and life of the Church."

"We went through a period of time, a confused period, in which we thought that if we promoted the priesthood, we were taking away from other ministries.

"And I think that confusion is over."

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