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Spring Day of Reflection 2013 - 40 Years and Still Running: Reflections on Priesthood

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Presenter: Rev. Dominic Grassi
Tuesday, April 30, 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.  (Download pdf Flyer)

St. Eulalia Church
1851 S. 9th Avenue, Maywood, IL 60153 (ample parking)

RSVP by Friday, April 26 to:
[email protected] or by calling our voice mail at 312-226-7222
(There is NO cost to attend, though a free-will offering is appreciated for Lunch.)

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Dominic Grassi, a lifelong Chicagoan, was ordained in 1973 for the Archdiocese of Chicago and celebrates 40 years of ministry in 2013.  He has been a pastor, a teacher, a counselor, a coach, a retreat and vocation director, an inspirational speaker, an editor, and a writer. He is currently pastor at St. Gertrude on the north side of Chicago. Before that, Dominic served as pastor of St. Josaphat Parish, also on Chicago's north side, with his motto, "A Church to Come Home To."  The books he has authored include: Bumping into God: 35 Stories of Finding God in Unexpected Places, and Still Called by Name - Why I Love Being a Priest.  In 2012, he received the Distinguished Pastor award from the National Catholic Education Association.

Dominic offers the following reflections:

1)  We were never trained to be administrators when we were in the seminary.  It was presumed we'd get on the job training as the newly ordained associate.

2)  For better or worse, you learned around the table at meals, and often from the retired pastor who was enjoying life and a drink.

3)  Your learning was cross pollinated by your many priest friends with whom you shared days off and vacations.

4)  We are asked to take on a myriad of roles, all at the same time. What do the people want their priests to be? Jesus with perfect pitch?
The questions that aren't asked but should be about our priesthood:

1) Why aren't we kinder -- to our people and to one another and to ourselves?
2) Are we more strangers to each other rather than a fraternity of brothers.
3) How much integrity are we living with and how much have compromised away?
4) Have we turned into old fart bachelors?
5) Are we still able to laugh when we minister?  Cry?
 
I embrace the joy of my priesthood daily since I've been so sick. What did I miss before then? Why did it take me so long?

What do we need to celebrate right now as archdiocesan priests privileged to minister to the people of our Archdiocese?