250 DAYS AS CATHOLIC PRIEST

 CELEBRATING MY PRIESTHOOD AT 250 DAYS THE MINISTRY SO FAR

I am Rev Fr Utazi Prince Marie Benignus Zereuwa. I am ordained a Catholic Priest on 8th December 2020. On this day, August 15 2021, is 250 days (8 months 7 days) of my priestly ordination. I thank God so far, and ask for his grace to continue working.

The question may be: why celebrating the 250 days? The answer is simple Yes, the number 250 may be significant or not, what I chose to celebrate is August 15 the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mama Maria. I was professed on 25th March 2009 (Solemnity of the Annumciation), which is a Feast of Our Lord Jesus and a Feast of Mama Maria. Then, ordained a deacon on 24th December 2017, the eve of Christmas, which has a lot to do with Mama Maria and Our Lord Jesus Christ. More so, I was born in the month of September, a birthday mate of Mama Maria. In addition, since my consecration to Mama Maria on January 1 2009 in the hands of Very Rev Fr Jude Obiechena CMF, our Novice Diirector then, the feasts and memorials of Mama Maria have been my major celebrations. This is because I cherish her so much, and she has been doing great for me. This is why I have to celebrate this years August 15 in a grand style, in connection with my priesthood; thanking Mama Maria for her goodness so far and requesting for her maternal protection more throughtout the years of my priesthood.

For these 250 days, I have come to understand certain things more. I will begin with the Eucharistic Celebration. 

EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION

As a Catholic Priest, within these 250 days I have celebrated over 550 Masses, votive Masses, Vigil Masses, Funeral Masses, Wedding Masses inclusive. However, I discovered that, in two of the Masses, I have celebrated them absent mindedly. But this does not make the Masses invalid. But I discovered it by myself. Thus, something happens when you, as a priest, celebrated Mass with your your whole body involved, your whole mind involved, your whole soul involved and your whole heart involved. You see that people will be touched. I now understand why our formators in the seminary then did say: you have to prepare for every Mass. 

During the consecration time, our Lord Jesus himself comes down. This why the priest is alter Christus another Christ. It is purely a mystery, an event beyond human reasoning and comprehension, what happens during Mass. After the wordsof consecration, the bread is truly Jesus body and the wine is truly Jesus blood. I have come to experience this during the worship of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, both during Mass and Outside Mass.

Celebrating the Holy mass is truly a work the work of God (opus Dei). In our human understanding of work, you see that one sweats during work and one also feels tired during work. Such things happen during consecration. It is a great work truly, to celebrate Mass. I do hear people say: is it not only to celebrate Mass! Did you go to farm? Hmmm. Some will even say, I can celebrate Mass! Is it not to read what is written in the book!! This is funny and crazy too. Celebrating a sacrament in the Catholic Church, is not only the opus dei, but also involves our physical and spiritual strength and faculties.

When I was ordained newly, the first inspiration I had is to be celebrating Mid-Night Masses. Inasmuch as it is vigil Masses, but people commonly understand it when it is called mid-night Masses. And I enjoy celebrating the votive Mass of the Holy or the votive Mass of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ. I want to tell you, that through these mid-night Masses, God has done so much in my life and in the lives of those around me. And many things have been unraveled through the power in the midnight Masses. Well, celebrating mid-night Masses is not for everyone, because our problems and challenges are not the same and our vocations are not the same. So, some people will carry more burden than the others. Also, everyone has his own goal depending on the grace given to him or her.

I have come to a deeper understanding of the mystery of the Holy Eucharist. First, I do not celebrate the Holy Mass for them. Not at all!! The Eucharistic celebration is first and foremost, for me; then for the congregation. This thought and understanding have increased my desire for Eucharistic Celebration always and the desire to always be in the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Second, during Eucharistic Celebration, the priest has the golden opportunity to swim in the presence of the Angelic Hosts. It is always a beautiful moment to behold whether at private Masses or Masses with Congregation. Jesus himself is present. Third, there are enough graces for those who participate at the Eucharistic celebration actively whether the congregation at the pew, the Mass Servers, the Seminarians and Deacons, and the Priests. Another grace, comes from, the reception of the Holy Communion. So, when you are not at the state of grace, do not approach the Holy Communion. You have received grace already if you participate actively during Holy Mass. Therefore, know why you are in the Church. Fourth, the Holy Mass is real. Many people have sent in their intentions. After celebrating the Holy Mass for the number of days I told them, they call to give testimony. I have also experienced it in my own particular cases. However, there are three different ways God answers prayers which everyone must br conscious of YES, take it now; YES, wait for some time; NO, it is not good for you. We should not always expect YES, take it now.

CONFESSION

For these few days I have been in the ministry, I have learnt a lot at the confessional. At the confessional, the priest is a reconciler; a priest is not a judge but one who dispenses Gods mercy to the penitents. Many come to the confessional moody, but they leave with smiling on their faces. I have come to understand that many who approach the mercy throne of God at the confessional are not themselves many are being weighed down by the sins they committed resulting into psychological disorder and trauma. Through counseling, they are freed. With this, I understand the need to follow the Churchs format of hearing confessions, mostly admonishing the penitents and proclaiming Gods love to him or her. Many approach me after morning Masses, after hearing the homily of the day. In the course of counseling, it will be understood that some of the penitents are struggling for survival; they are waiting for who to listen to their other side of the story and help them out. Many are sick psychologically, many are sick emotionally. They are LOOKING FOR JESUS IN HUMAN FORM, WHO WOULD LISTEN TO THEIR PLIGHT AND HAVE MERCY OF THEM, and AND GIVE THEM COURAGE.

At the confessional, I understand that God heals his people. God does not only forgive, he gives mercy, heals and delivers. So, at the confessional, there is healing; at the confessional, there is deliverance. I repeat: Many who come to confessional come to look for who cares to listen to their predicament they do not come just to confess their sins, NO; they come that the priest will listen to their life situation, counsel them and pray for them. I have encountered such people many a time. When the queue is not much, I will counsel them and guide them in prayers. I thank God they get relieved. When the queue is much, I tell them a day to come for counseling. I have concluded that at confessional, the priest should not be in a hurry. The art of listening is very important. I thank Rev Fr Paschal- Paul Okeke, whose book titled HEALING THROUGH LISTENING assisted me a lot.

I have come to understand also that a priest needs to build confidence in the people. Many try to hide their sins at the confessional. They choose to say the ones they want and hide the ones they do not want. But when you follow the penitent psychologically, you will understand that some are still remaining. At other times, the Holy Spirit will reveal to you that the penitent is not yet free she or he is still carrying a burden.

At the confessional, the burden is lifted off from the penitent down to the feet of the priest. So the penitent is truly delivered at the confessional if the penitent makes a good confession. At the confessional, physically, you will see the priest but spiritually, it is Christ carrying the burden. However, the priest still feels the wight of the sin. This is why after confession, I pray for myself too, for I feel the burden myself, depending on the number of penitents I attended to. Atimes, I tell myself, if Jesus has not be Spirit, our sins may have weighed him down. Truly, SINS HAVE WEIGHT. Sins are heavy. Sins are burden.

When the penitent confesses his sins, the healing has started. The ability of the priest to listen carefully to the penitent and gives him or her necessary guidance, it means that the healing of the soul have strated. And by absolution, the priest has delivered and/or healed the penitent completely. The penitent is no longer what and who he or she was before approaching the priest at the confessional.

ANOINTING OF THE SICK

My involvement in visiting the sick in the two parishes I have been since January 2021 tells me that God heals his people. Christians are looking unto the Lord God for their healing. It is quite unfortunate that many families do not clean up the environment where their sick ones stay. On the other hand, the sick are always happy when they see the priest coming to their homes to give the sacraments (confession, Eucharist, Anointing). Because, the priest brings to them the Compassionate and Healing aspect of God.

EVANGELISM

During my homilies, I understand that some people get healed. Because after Mass, they approach me for the testimony, and request for more interactions. It is a good thing.

SOCIAL MEDIA EVANGELISM

I thank God for the gift of writing. Many read my homilies and other articles either on group whatsapps or facebook and telegrams. I enjoy it eventhough it is time demanding. For example, it takes me between 45-50 minutes to share my homilies on Whatsapp only. And it takes me between 20-30 minutes share my homilies on facebook (up to 30 groups), depending on the availability of the network. I am so much happy that my homilies reach to too many people. However, I have some challenges, which bothers mainly on subscription of data on both the two networks I use for social media evangelism. It has been easy. What I thank God who has been assisting me; I also thank those who allowed God to us them in assisting me atimes, with the subscription of data. 

Because of my writings, I choose to engage myself in readings and research after the pastoral work of the day or hour. 

REGRETS

For these days, I have learnt that most people have the opinion that once a person is ordained a priest, he has accumulated much wealth. They think that Pope will pay millions of Naira to the priest. Funny as it may sound, it is a reality. This is what many people think. I do ask some where do you think I will get the money from? Some will reply, dont they give you money? When I asked of those who are the they, the response will be, church people. Then I will further ask, are you not my church person? When you cannot give me, whom do you think will give me? When all Church people are doing like you, do you think I will eat or even bath or even buy sandals among others!!! It is time our church people, including you, assist their priests. When you assist your priests morally, financially and otherwise, he can be able to do his work effectively, even when he is sick.

There are people who always approach me to remember them in Masses I celebrate. Yes I do that. But it is unfortunate that they do not care to make offering for the Masses (that is, book Mass). I mean, sending in little token to me for the Masses. May be, such people think that WINE and BREAD are not been bought; they think that candles, matches are not been bought; they think that the sacred linens that get old are not been replaced; they think that the soap to wash the Sacred Linens are not been bought!!! Dearly beloved, inasmuch as the Holy Mass is not been paid for, you are obliged to make little offering for it for the priest to be saying your intentions at Mass. The Church in her wisdom has clarified this issue from time immemorial.

Again, many do conclude that priests have no other thing doing apart from celebrating Mass in the morning, then eating and drinking. They think priests do not pray except for celebrating Mass. How can you expect me to pick your calls any time you call me? Wait oo, if I am with my darling Jesus, I should go with my phone so that when you call, I stop my discussion with Jesus and answer you!!! This is terrible. Or when I am writing, I will keep my phone by my side so that when you call, I will stop what I am doing and pick your calls? Please, my hobby is writing. My parish is writing. My strength is writing. My joy is writing. And when I am writing, I need to be coordinated. Your call will distract me. So, I will inform you when I finish writing. The same thing, when I finish praying, I will inform you that I am now available for your calls. Do not expect me to answer your calls promptly whenever you call. Do not be offened that I did not pick your calls. But expect me to either return your calls or to inform me that I am available for your calls.

MY CONVICTION

The life of Catholic Priesthood is the life of the mysteries of Christ Jesus Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful and Glorious. I must be disposed to accept all these if they come. Therefore, I must approach this priesthood with my whole heart, strength, body, mind and soul like my Lord Jesus Christ in proclaiming the Good News. 

SHALOM!!!