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COMMUNITY
October 24, 2017 | The Valley Catholic
Giving Thanks for our Priests
By Theresa Rieve
I remember a story told by the par-
ish priest in a small town in northern
California. He apologized in advance
if he seemed tired at the Sunday morn-
ing Mass. He was responsible for two
churches and was also covering a third
parish for the pastor who was in the
hospital recovering from a health cri-
sis. He had spent the prior day driving
from parish to parish, saying Mass and
handling business in each, returning
to his home parish in time to fall into
bed, exhausted –only to be awakened
at 2 a.m. The hospital was calling –
someone was asking for a priest. He
jumped out of bed, threw some clothes
on, collected the necessary items for
the Anointing of the Sick, and rushed
off. He arrived at the appropriate
hospital room, only to fi nd the patient
sitting up in bed – certainly not what
he had expected. He asked her if she
was the one who was asking for a
priest. She was. He then asked, “Do
you want to receive Communion?” She
said, “Oh, no Father, I’m a Lutheran.”
He was puzzled, wondering why she
had called. She said, “I just needed
someone to talk to, and I knew that
Catholic priests are the only people
who will come out in the middle of the
night when a call comes in that they
are needed.”
Few, if any, Catholics would call a
priest in the middle of the night “just
to talk.” We realize that their ministry
is to the entire community, and that
they must go where they are most
needed. (And that when we are the
one in need, a priest will be there).
We are always grateful for their min-
istry, but often forget to say so. That is
why we have World Priest Day. World
Priest Day (WPD) is a celebration and
affi rmation of the men who commit
their lives to the Lord and the Church
via the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
We invite you to pray with us for our
priests and the gift that they are to us
– faithfully serving us by providing
the Sacraments, spiritual guidance,
education, and love as a daily gift. This
can be as simple as sending a special
card or making phone calls to express
your appreciation. Take the time to
For some, sup