I fully identify and empathize with our ordained ministers of God (who we call priests, as well as deacons) as my own heart is the heart of a priest by the grace of God. By Rite of Baptism we become God’s children and we are called to be Priest (unordained), Prophet and King.
A little over 5 years ago as I sat in Church in front of the Tabernacle I asked God to make me a priest and I explored becoming an ordained minister of God throughout most of 2022. It was quite an experience and journey that brought me closer to God and the priesthood and I am forever grateful to God for giving me a new heart for the ordained priesthood. God replied to me, no not now and maybe never as to the Priesthood or Diaconate as I explored both; but God did reply I will make you my Sacristan, and it has made all the difference.
Sacristan is not ordained but the word Sacred is contained within Sacristan and a Sacristan is put in charge of caring for The Church of God. Preparing everything needed for Mass – The sacred vessels, the hosts which will become the most precious body and blood of Jesus, the Priestly vestments, opening and closing the Church building and so much more including living and performing the duties in a prayerful manner. This position has changed my life, my entire being actually. I have been granted interior visions as Sacristan during the Mass, which I pour my entire being into as best I can during every Mass. A part of me lives and dies during every Mass but it is the most beautiful experience between God and me so much so that I have a hard time articulating it, however, everyone I love and cherish and even those I don’t know are carried within my heart on the altar and offered up during Mass as well as my joys, pains, sufferings and every bad and good I experience. It is mystical and between Almighty God and me. I pray everyone gets to experience this during Mass and am simply grateful that God grants me this Communion with Him.
Why We Must Pray For Priests
In my time as Sacristan I have learned that everyone is wounded (skin color, creed, political affiliation nor anything else is exempt from the wound of concupiscence since the fall of man in the Garden).
The Church of The Resurrection where I am Sacristan has the Sacristy (which is really my office domain) situated in a location that is heavily trafficked so people pour in to talk to me and it’s a blessing. I am always there for people and blessed to be. Our priests have much to do and only one priest is under 80 although we have a visiting priest who celebrates the Mass here every Tuesday for us who is in his late 70’s. We also have 2 deacons who come occasionally to assist with Mass. I can be in the Church working a minimum of 5 days a week and often alone other then Our Lord and guardian angel with me along with the people. Since we are located in Southwest Florida it’s a bit transient but we also have regular parishioners who attend daily mass.
If I listed all of the stories and people’s concerns, worries, heartaches and more over only the last 2 plus years I have been Sacristan it would fill a book and it’s also very personal so I won’t but I will write that so many people need help, guidance and spiritual direction. In a addition so many through no fault of their own just need to talk or vent or cry out almost into a vending machine. God, the Priest, Deacon, Sacristan are simply vending machines but it’s understandable and since God has placed me in this position and I am there more then anyone else many just want to talk to me and some have mistaken me for a Deacon and in some cases even the Priest. I handle most of our masses throughout the week and weekend as well as funerals, weddings and other masses, adorations and non liturgical services.
It is both a joy and a beautiful cross. I direct many to the Priest, some to the Deacon. The reason we need to pray for the Priest especially but also for the Deacon and the Sacristan is for one, the Priest of God is here to administer the Sacraments, including Reconciliation where much heartache, pain, suffering and sin is professed but so many unconsciously think the priest is a vending machine with no feelings and should be at everyone’s beckon call. I also now understand why Jesus had to go to a secluded place in the middle of the night to commune with His Father as people constantly took, took, and took some more from Jesus to be healed and consoled so please pray and talk to Jesus and ask Him how He is doing and say Jesus what can I do for you and how can I console you instead of always saying Jesus do this and do that for me. Same goes for the Priest. Please go up to your Priests and thank them and ask if they are okay, ask what you can do to help them and assist them and comfort them and listen to them. Do same for your deacons and sacristans as well. So many people come up to me and thank me so I am truly blessed. The parish I work for is truly a blessing and I love all the people regardless of what pain, suffering and help they need and I simply try to be there and listen and pray with and/or for them right on the spot.
This life is a beautiful journey our Lord has granted us and we are in it together. I do feel like a priest, and thankful our Lord has granted me a priestly heart because it is not me but God in me and even though I am not worthy nor allowed to administer The Sacraments as an ordained priest of God I can do a lot for God and His people and so can you. I am so blessed my heart sings. God has made me a beloved son, father, brother, friend, lay Dominican, Kings Man and Sacristan and I am totally in awe of God and His love and generosity and grateful for all of it so let’s work together with our Priests, Deacons and everyone else to Glorify God in our lives while helping others along the way back to Him. God gave all of us life to protect it from the very first moment of natural conception to the very last breath of natural life and to share this life together and we came from God and are sent here by Him to get back to Him and bring as many others as He sets in our path back with us to Him as well.
Let’s truly Walk By Faith To Live Joyfully in this life and the Next!
Dominus Vobiscum…Et Cum Espiritu Tuo!
Charles DeFeo: Catholic Blogger and Useless Servant of Christ 