Is it time for married men, women to take the lead in ministry?

Lafourche council shoots down Company Canal deal
June 8, 2010
Thursday, June 10
June 10, 2010
Lafourche council shoots down Company Canal deal
June 8, 2010
Thursday, June 10
June 10, 2010

The Catholic Church’s observance of the Year of the Priests ends June 19. I would like to make some personal comments before this period ends.

I feel very blessed to be called by the Almighty to be an instrument of God’s grace and mercy for the past 46 years. I have had the support of family and friends throughout the years, which has given me courage to carry out the divine mission in the area that is now the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.


Priests have many opportunities to share personal experiences of those we serve – the birth and baptism of a child, the welcoming of new students to school, a couple beginning a new life together, the celebrations of anniversaries and successes in life.


These experiences also include the darker moments – the loss of a love one, sicknesses, difficulties in relationships, natural disasters.

I have felt very privileged to lead congregations in worshiping and praising God for all we have received in life. I have tried to free people to be themselves – to throw off any shackles that people may be carrying around with them.


I truly believe what St. Irenaeus said back in the 2nd Century: “The glory of God is a person fully alive”


I also acknowledge that a person does not lose their humanity once they become a priest. I have strived to be a loving human being, but sometimes I have failed. If I have hurt anyone in my ministry, I apologize and ask for your forgiveness.

The priesthood itself has gone through many changes in the last 46 years. The priesthood is far more demanding today.


The priest is called to be an enabler, a facilitator, an inspirator of the people. The priest’s challenge is to call forth the gifts of the lay community and train them in leadership. The priest today, to be effective, must be able to work in a truly collegial fashion. His ability to relate to others – laity, women, religious sisters, and so on – is essential.

Jesus’ words to St. Peter are also meant for us priests – tend and feed the flock of God.

In the past, some of our leaders have neglected the sheep “for the good of the institution.” Part of the problem priests are facing today is our credibility.

Do we care more for the institution or the sheep? Jesus was interested in sheep. The institution will one day pass away. The sheep will live for all eternity.

It is no secret that we have a serious shortage of priests to serve the people of God here in the United States. We can only choose from a very small segment of the population – mature unmarried males. Maybe we ought to start thinking about expanding our vision.

Many married men are available to serve the people of God if we allowed them to do so. We already have married priests in the Catholic Church – members of Eastern Rite churches and ministers who have come into the church from Protestant religions. Pope Benedict recently invited married Episcopalian priests to join the Catholic Church.

We ought also to start looking into the possibility of ordaining women to be deacons and priests. It is a historical fact that women were ordained deacons in the early church.

There is also evidence that some women might have been ordained priests.

Jesus revealed himself as the messiah to the woman at the well and sent her into town to spread the good news of God’s love. He also appeared to Mary Magdalene after his resurrection and sent her to proclaim to the apostles that he was alive. Maybe it is time for us to treat women as Jesus did – as equal partners in ministry.