{"id":23799,"date":"2013-06-09T19:20:39","date_gmt":"2013-06-09T23:20:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/deaconsbench\/?p=23799"},"modified":"2016-09-30T16:51:22","modified_gmt":"2016-09-30T20:51:22","slug":"a-new-priest-looks-back-this-year-has-been-the-best-of-my-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/deaconsbench\/2013\/06\/a-new-priest-looks-back-this-year-has-been-the-best-of-my-life\/","title":{"rendered":"A New Priest Looks Back: “This Year Has Been the Best of My Life…”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

My friend and blog neighbor Fr. Michael Duffy marks a milestone:\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

One year ago today I was ordained to the priesthood of Jesus Christ by Bishop William Murphy for the Diocese of Rockville Centre.\u00a0 I celebrated the 11am Mass this morning here in my parish with the parishioners and many friends and family present.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve told people that this year has been the best of my life.\u00a0 It has been the most challenging as well, but the best.\u00a0 Everything I have done this year has been a first:\u00a0 my first funeral, my first sick call, my first time running out of Holy Communion at Mass (hopefully my last time too!).\u00a0 It\u2019s also been a year of mistakes too.\u00a0 None of us is perfect.\u00a0 Projects fail, phone calls are missed, but the Lord makes up for my failings.\u00a0 I\u2019ve grown accustomed to saying I\u2019m sorry.\u00a0 I think that\u2019s a good thing in any vocation \u2013 not just mine.\u00a0 I\u2019ll never apologize for the Church or for her teachings.\u00a0 But I will when I know I haven\u2019t been the best I can be.\u00a0 I now prepare myself to enter into my second year of priesthood.\u00a0 While I\u2019ve now had many \u2018firsts\u2019 I know the Lord will keep giving me fresh experiences and fresh encounters with the people and most importantly with Himself.<\/p>\n

I am constantly urged by the people of God never to loose my fervor or excitement.\u00a0 I can\u2019t see how that would be possible.\u00a0 I LOVE what I do everyday.\u00a0 Some days are more tiresome than others, some days are more rewarding than others.\u00a0 Nonetheless, I love being a priest.\u00a0 Standing at the altar and saying the words of consecration remain for me the most moving and sacred part of my day.\u00a0 They remain for me the most challenging too.\u00a0 To say \u201cThis is my Body\u201d is a challenge like no other.\u00a0 I\u2019ve seen how priesthood can be physically taxing.\u00a0 I\u2019ve also become acutely aware of my own sinfulness as I say those most sacred words.\u00a0 I\u2019m more aware of my own humanity than I ever was before.\u00a0 I\u2019m constantly amazed and moved by the sanctity of those people I meet in the church, at Mass, and especially in the confessional.\u00a0 The people I meet make me want to be not only a better priest, but a better man.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Read it all.<\/a><\/strong> \u00a0And congratulations, padre! \u00a0Ad multos annos!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My friend and blog neighbor Fr. Michael Duffy marks a milestone:\u00a0 One year ago today I was ordained to the priesthood of Jesus Christ by Bishop William Murphy for the Diocese of Rockville Centre.\u00a0 I celebrated the 11am Mass this morning here in my parish with the parishioners and many friends and family present. I\u2019ve […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":132,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[42,52],"tags":[11194,11200],"class_list":["post-23799","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-priests","category-vocations","tag-priests","tag-vocations"],"yoast_head":"\nA New Priest Looks Back: "This Year Has Been the Best of My Life..."<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"My friend and blog neighbor Fr. 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