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Farewell Homily at Sacred Heart

Farewell Homily at Sacred Heart

Last updated on: June 8, 2012 at 1:03 pm by Father Pablo Migone

Farewell Homily at Sacred Heart 2012-06-08T13:03:00-05:00 Father Pablo Migone

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Throughout seminary, but especially during the last year, there’s great anticipation towards one’s first parish assignment. That first assignment will be the setting for countless first experiences which will mark the rest of your life as a priest. These include joyful and exciting moments, but also trials and difficulties.

My first assignment came officially on the day of ordination, Sacred Heart in Warner Robins. I had only visited Sacred Heart once before while I was assigned to Saint Joseph in Macon as a seminarian in 2007. I was received warmly by Father Fred, Deacon Jim and each person I met.

Most said to me, “Father, you look too young to be a priest!” I even made a comment of this in my first homily. Three years later, I don’t hear this comment much anymore. I can come up with two reasons for this: everyone has already mentioned it to me, or perhaps my body has caught up to my age: a few more gray hairs, less hair for that matter and a few more pounds. Time has gone by and I am proud to say I’ve spent three years of my life dedicated to doing God’s work here at Sacred Heart.

I have learned much while here, but most importantly, I have learned much about the Priesthood. I thought it appropriate to share some of these lessons and experiences for which I am grateful to God and to each one of you.

Number One: The priest brings the light of Christ into the darkness of the world.

After my first emergency call to the hospital where I anointed a dying woman at the intensive care unit, I came to the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. After ministering to a shocked and distraught family, I was even asking myself, “where were you Lord?” The answer came crystal clear, “I was there, through you.” Focusing so much on myself, I had failed to see Christ at work through me, the priest. It was Christ truly present at work through the sacraments of His Church. At the time of death, at tragedies, at moments of loss, and moments of despair and failure, the priest brings the light of Christ into the darkness of the world.

Number Two: The priest leads others to Christ.

I returned a phone message from a young man which led to meeting with him the next day. As a possibility for him to meet a good, Catholic wife, I recommended he visit one of the several Catholic dating sites online (you will even find one in the bulletin). Months later he shared he had followed my advice and was now dating a wonderful young lady. Some time after that, I met that wonderful young lady when she came to visit Warner Robins. Some months later still, they asked me to officiate their wedding in Atlanta. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to be present for their wedding eight months ago, but I had already done my job. God led them to each other through my small suggestion, and now they could not be more grateful to God for His awesome work. The priest leads others to Christ.

Number Three: The priest is a powerful dispenser of God’s infinite mercy.

One of my favorite things to do as a priest is to hear confessions. Not because I want to know what mischief everyone gets into, but because it’s an encounter with God’s mercy. So many times I have let out a tear while hearing confessions from seeing the profound impact of God’s mercy in a person’s soul. To see heavy burdens lifted, to see a troubled and tormented face leave smiling and peaceful. And to be part of this outpouring of mercy and grace, it is truly humbling. The priest is a powerful dispenser of God’s infinite mercy.

Number Four: Grace supplies what is lacking by nature.

When I arrived to Sacred Heart, I asked Father John what one thing he found was lacking in the parish. He answered immediately, “a good marriage preparation program in Spanish.” My seven year seminary preparation had equipped me with one two hour seminar on marriage preparation by a psychologist, and most of the time we spoke about annulments. That was it.

Though I felt completely incompetent in fulfilling this need, I ventured prayerfully to fulfill it. God provided a wonderful couple to assist me and now almost all the couples who married or had their marriages con-validated in my time here are closely involved in the parish: ushers, choir members, Eucharistic ministers, lectors, even the Spanish RCIA leader and the Aztec Dance leader. This was not achieved by a priest who had been wonderfully prepared to do this, but the exact opposite. It was a priest greatly lacking preparation in one aspect of ministry which God made flourish to show me something: the priest does not need to be an expert to achieve things, the priest needs to be faithful to God, desire what is good and God will accomplish what God intends. Grace supplies what is lacking by nature.

I could continue giving examples of lessons learned, but I leave you with this, which if you attended 5 o’clock Mass on May 12th, you already heard this from my homily:

The priest, united to Christ, lays down his life out of love for Christ and others. The priest seeks and finds the presence of Christ in every person, in every situation, in ever circumstance, no exception.

The priesthood is not a “job” or “career.” The priesthood is a total surrender of oneself out of love.

The priest is aware he is a priest not because of his great abilities or personal merit, but because he has been called by god for a unique role in the Church.

God does not choose the ready, he makes ready the chosen. “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to bear fruit that will remain”

The priest goes to wherever he is sent to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ because wherever there are ears to listen, there the Gospel must be preached.

The priest surrenders his whole being to those he serves, not as a master, but as a friend.

The priest is an instrument of unity, aiding those wishing to grow closer to Christ. The priest’s task is not to get in the way between Jesus and his faithful, but to be a guide.

The priest is indispensable when it comes to celebrating the sacraments, but a specific priest is never indispensable. The Priesthood of Jesus Christ has existed before any priest alive today and it will continue to exist after every priest alive today is dead.

I leave Sacred Heart grateful to God for having brought me here. I leave grateful to Father Fred and Deacon Jim for their guidance and care. I leave grateful for each and every one of you. May God bless you.

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