On Saturday, May 29, 1971, 52 years ago, having completed philosophical and theological studies and vocational formation and having been approved by the seminary authorities, I was ordained a priest at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, New York City, by Terence Cardinal Cooke, archbishop of New York. On that beautiful spring morning, 18 young men were ordained priests for the Church in New York.
On the following day, Sunday, May 30, I offered my first Mass at my home parish, Saint Anthony, Mansion Street, in the Van Nest area of the East Bronx, N.Y., where I was baptized, received First Holy Communion, was confirmed and graduated from the parish grammar school. Of both of those days, I have precious memories.
Two weeks later, I received my first assignment from my archbishop, Cardinal Cooke. It was to the Catholic University in Ponce, Puerto Rico, for Spanish-language studies to be followed by a three-month assignment to a parish by the bishop of the Diocese of Santiago, Dominican Republic. Thus, I began living the ordained priesthood of Jesus Christ.
On Saturday, May 14, 2022, as the Bishop of Camden, I will ordain five young men to the priesthood of Jesus Christ for the Church in Camden. They have completed theological studies, vocational formation and have been approved by seminary and diocesan authorities for ordination to the priesthood. Two weeks later, they will receive from me their first assignments. My fervent prayer for each one is that their living for many years as ordained priests of Jesus Christ will be for them as it has been for me – humanly fulfilling, spiritually enriching and emotionally broadening.
During the past 52 years, I have encountered Christ who has been shown to me in many faces, stories, people, situations and experiences – many of which have been joyful; others have been challenging. These past years have been filled with surprises, adjustments, blessings, adaptations, spiritual growth and much learning. I have walked on easy roads and bumpy ones as well. I have grown and grown and continue to grow as a man, a Christian and a priest. Who I was on May 29, 1971, is not who I am as I write this reflection. God’s grace has helped me along the way to adapt and change while being faithful to my vocation to be a priest of Jesus Christ.
Cardinal John O’Connor, my archbishop from 1984 to 2000, would remind us priests, “Once a priest always a priest.” Through 52 years of living as a priest, I have tried to be “always a priest” even when that has been difficult.
I encourage our five new Camden priests to allow each assignment they receive over the years to teach them, affect them and even change them. They have much to learn from the faithful, the non-faithful and from all they will meet as they live as priests. They will be shown new ways; introduced to new cultures, new foods, new languages and new customs – all to make them better priests, holy priests, well-formed men and more convinced Christians. I pray each one will be “always a priest.”
As I look back over living as a priest for 52 years, I wonder why God chose me and not others who might have been better at living the priesthood than I. It is a mystery. I did not call myself to be a priest. I was called; I responded to that call. To the best of my ability and with the daily help of God, I have lived that call.
The ministry of a priest is principally expressed in the celebration of the sacraments, in preaching the Word of God and in teaching the Catholic faith. There are a plethora of other ministries involved in the priesthood and in priestly ministry, such as pastoral counseling, visitations to parishioners, teaching children, teenagers and adults, spiritual directors to a variety of groups, involvement in community-based organizations and pastoral chaplaincies. Doing these ministries, a priest serves others. A priest is ordained to serve and grows in holiness through his service.
While I am horrified, sickened and mortified by the sins of a few priests of the Church and by the suffering they have caused their victims and our Church, I am proud to be a Catholic priest. Over the years, I have known many priests whose examples of living the priesthood of Jesus Christ has encouraged and continues to encourage my living the priesthood.
I ask anyone who reads this column to pray for priestly vocations to the Church of Camden. If you know a young man whom you think may have a vocation, tell him. In today’s culture, young men need encouragement to respond to God’s call to the priesthood. Your words may help him approach a priest about a vocation. In addition, pray for our five new Camden priests that as they live the priesthood, “Ad multos annos” for many years, each one may “always be a priest.”
Most Reverend Dennis J. Sullivan, D.D.
Bishop of Camden