Editor's Note It's a good time to thank the good priests By Darcy L. Fargo

September 26, 2018

“Do you think a priest is the proper person to (participate in a public ministry)?”

The question, posed by a priest I’ve come to adore, stopped me in my tracks.

It’s a tough time to be Catholic. I think we can all agree on that. But as I’ve worked to process my own feelings about recent news, I hadn’t much thought about its impact on our priests. That question, posed in an email, made me think about it.

My answer to that question: “There’s never a bad time for the world to hear from a good priest.”
Since I started working for the diocese, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and work with a fairly substantial number of priests. I’ve met brilliant priests, funny priests, compassionate priests, priests who are very pastoral and priests who are a bit more administrative. They truly run the gamut in terms of personalities, strengths and struggles.

I’ve met good men, who love the Lord and try to bring Him to others and others to Him.

We have priests among us who are doing amazing things. I know of a priest who has been ministering to individuals struggling with alcoholism and addiction. I know priests who bring Jesus to individuals in prisons and in hospitals and nursing homes. I know priests who help feed the hungry. I know priests who continually show mercy and kindness. I know priests who have helped me with my personal struggles of faith.

That question, posed to me in that email, made me realize I probably don’t do enough to thank those priests and to let them know how much they are valued and loved.

While I stand by my answer of, “there’s never a bad time for the world to hear from a good priest,” I feel like I should add, “there’s never a bad time to thank a good priest.”

In fact, as our priests and our church face these tough times, it seems like they can use our love and support more than ever.