Catholic Priests have been tasked to celebrate the Mass and other sacraments of the Church properly and with dignity, following the way things have been laid down, rather than the way they think it should be done. The charge was given by Very Rev. Fr. Julius Olaitan, Parish Priest, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Victoria Island and Dean, Lagos Island Deanery, Lagos Archdiocese while delivering the homily at the first valedictory Mass and reception of the Ministries of Lectors and acolytes of St. Albert the Great Major Seminary, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Noting that there is a trend among some people to celebrate the Mass and other sacraments the way they think it should be, Fr. Olaitan counselled the graduands not to join that kind of group, as he added that the liturgy is a real factor in the unity of the Church and the faith of the people and one cannot be wrong when they follow the rubrics. Urging the priests in training to maintain the dignity of the priesthood, he explained that the priesthood is a vocation; a call that needs a daily and constant response from the chosen. He said: “When the Bishop lays his hands on you, he will pray that God should grant you the ‘dignity of the priesthood.’ It is this dignity that has kept the Church going. From that day forward, everyone, old and young, male and female will look on you with respect because of what God has done for you.”
Fr. Olaitan advised priests to prepare well for all celebrations, adding that there is nothing wrong with over preparing for the celebrations of the Liturgy and the sacraments. “You will do yourself and the people of God a great good if you take time to prepare your homilies well. Do not be in a hurry to get done with it. That is an area where people will expect a lot from you, after all your training”, he said. He urged them to be obedient and live in peace with others, adding that obedience is something they will have to promise in private and in public to the bishop. “You will be a happy man if you learn to obey him, his successors and those to whom you may be assigned to work with. Even if you are better than your boss, you don’t have to flaunt it, present your ideas with prudence and love. If you feel aggrieved in any way, consult your senior brothers who can tell you the truth.
We will help you”, he admonished. Asking the seminarians to serve the people of God, he said as priests, they will instantly be thrown into the field to shepherd the flock at their own level, as he advised them not to be busy with other things that will be detrimental to their vocation. Fr. Olaitan urged the priests in training to use the gifts God has given them for the good of the Church and the people entrusted to their care, asking them to appreciate and live out the vows of poverty, chastity, which will contribute greatly to their fulfilment as priests.
