I was away for nearly the entirety of last week and am only just in these last hours of the week finalizing what was supposed to be an early release pastor’s post! So much for the plans of this man in the face of those of the Lord. Who needs sleep anyway! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

So what has this pastor been doing so much of away from his parish family this week?!? A reasonable question, that. The first day (Monday) was dedicated to my priest support group, which meets once a month. We spend a holy hour together, spend time catching up over snacks & drinks (typically coffee and sparkling water!), and then go through a formal check-in according to a list of areas we’ve agreed to be accountable to each other: daily prayer (Mass, the Office, the rosary, spiritual reading, scripture reading, holy hour), spiritual health (regular confession, spiritual direction, chastity), and physical health (exercise & health overview). In addition to those we also talk about how we’re doing in general, sharing where we’re struggling, how the Lord is challenging & consoling us – asking for and offering each other support & counsel. I’ve been blessed to be part of this group for nearly 15 years and have been extraordinarily blessed by their friendship and care. As you might imagine, I really look forward to our gatherings!

Also, we typically go out for dinner and play a board game (or two) afterwards. One of the guys had been gifted a new game – Plunder: A Pirate’s Life – and I can hearrtily recommend it (though my pirate voice, required though it is for the game, is about as good as my pirate puns).

After my day off (Tuesday), I joined all the pastors of the archdiocese in a retreat/conference that the archbishop organized for us. I must admit, I was pretty cynical about having to spend time away from my parish the week before Holy Week on a retreat whose theme was centered around our archdiocesan restructuring project. But in all humility – and not reluctantly, at that – I have to admit (proclaim, even) that I was wrong; it was an amazing couple of days. The speaker – a brother priest of the archdiocese (from my support group, in fact) – gave not one but two excellent talks that beautifully connected our current struggles with the suffering & sacrifice of Christ. The chancery staff who presented on various practicalities & next steps in Partners in the Gospel offered useful and helpful information on how we may continue forward feasibly and fruitfully. It was all quite wonderful and I find myself hoping that we might make a habit of this kind of thing.

The gathering concluded on Thursday at noon, giving plenty of time for dinner with some brother priests before we went to the Chrism Mass at the cathedral. I encourage you to read Archbishop Etienne’s homily, which was quite lovely. If I had more time and energy, I’d likely spend not a few paragraphs waxing eloquent about the blessing of the holy oils – especially the symbolism of the archbishop breathing over the sacred chrism with which the elect will celebrate their baptism and be joined by candidates and confirmandee in the celebration of confirmations and seminarian deacons will be ordained priests. I’d probably talk at great length about how the Chrism Mass is a symbol that manifests the reality of the unity of our archdiocese – both in the coming together of Catholics from across our vast territory as well as in the joining in prayer of clergy, religious, and laity in union with our Ordinary, the archbishop. And I’d undoubtedly offer some heartfelt prose about the renewal of promises by us priests to the archbishop in the presence of the gathered faithful, hearkening back to the day when – in that same space – most of us (myself included) were ordained.

Good as all those themes are, the one that stood out for me this week came from a late-night walk to the beach with two of my priest friends: that of life in the Spirit. To be honest, I don’t entirely understand what that means – though my heart burns a bit to find out, preferably here on earth but certainly someday in heaven. And yet, there was a taste of it in that walk as we talked about our personal encounters with Jesus and how He has offered us healing, growth, and, more than anything, His friendship. The Holy Spirit loomed large throughout the Chrism Mass – making Himself known in the joy of our gathering, in the spirit of anticipation as we walked together through the familiar but also ever-new celebration of not only the Eucharist that was confected and received there but the sacraments that will be celebrated with the oils blessed for distribution to every church in our archdiocese. The Holy Spirit prompted smiles of recognition as people I hadn’t seen for months and years made eye contact (or ran over for a hug after Mass!) during the Mass.

As I think about it, maybe I do have a bit of an idea about life in the Spirit! As we enter into Holy Week, first with tomorrow’s Palm Sunday celebrations and then all of the liturgies & prayers of the Triduum, may the Holy Spirit help us recognize His movements in our hearts – and guide us to the new life the Father offers us through the mysteries & fruits of the passion, death, and resurrection of His Son.