September 3, 2025

By Father William Muench
NCC columnist

Today, I would like to take this opportunity to share with you an expression of my gratitude to Almighty God for the many blessings and gifts I have received personally as a Catholic priest. I want you to know how blessed God have been toward me. Our Lord has truly used me to bring the love and teachings of the Lord Jesus to many, a time of great happiness for me. I think of these blessings each time I consider the sacraments of our Catholic Church. I am truly grateful that God has chosen me to be his minister and disciple.

I have had the privilege of baptizing many infants. Each baptism has joined me to a family at this special time in their lives, as their family grows – a time of happiness at the birth of a new son or daughter. This sacrament of baptism has joined me with so many families – not just at the time of the ceremony but also through their family lives.

I have had the privilege of baptizing and bestowing confirmation on many adults, bringing them into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil Mass. I have helped the Catholic Church grow! It is a moment of great happiness for me, andI thank God for this blessing.

I have had the privilege of celebrating the sacrament of penance many times. I was called upon to bring God’s love and forgiveness to a penitent who came seeking new life – who came seeking the love and forgiveness of our God. I truly feel blessed! I am a sinner like all who come to me in confession, yet I am called upon to lead them to our forgiving Savior, who has also forgiven me. This is truly a happy moment for me; the Lord needs me.

I have had the privilege of celebrating the Holy Eucharist, offering the Holy Mass and bringing the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus to so many others. I find great joy – great happiness – at this moment. I am so grateful for this happy moment to be a priest. God has chosen me to lead a parish and given me the joy of bringing the Lord – Body and Blood – to these parishioners.

I have been privileged to witness and celebrate so many wonderful marriages. This has made me a part of many families. I prayed with them on the day of their wedding. I am often reminded by a couple that I had celebrated their wedding and nuptial Mass. I have continued to be a part of their family. I am constantly grateful to God for that opportunity.

I have had the privilege of bring the support of the sacrament of the anointing of the sick to so many who were experiencing this critical time of their life. I have also brought this sacrament to those struggling with a health problem or some other challenge in life. Helping so many, working with God to help them,I feel joyful that I can bring the strength and support of the Church.

A Prayer of Thanksgiving written by Father Edward Hays: “From the center of my being I praise You, my Lord and God, for the beautiful experiences that you have given me. They have enflamed my heart, renewed my dreams, and enabled me to see with eyes divine. As the disciples of Your Son were set afire by Your Divine Spirit, these sacred opportunities have encouraged me to greatness within the scope of my simple life. May the activities of my heart bear witness to the great grace of what has happened to me in my day-to-day life.”