community leader
God’s plan for the world is ambitious; it involves nothing less than the complete transformation of human society. The building blocks for this massive plan are our local communities. As part of these communities, the church works in partnership with civic leaders, community organisations, other Christian churches and other religions.

One of the most satisfying things about being a priest is being part of a faith community and being a pastoral leader. This involves presiding at communal worship. It also involves being among smaller communities, such as families at big moments like weddings and baptisms. Priests are called upon to enter the lives of people when life is darkened with sadness and difficulty. Even through these difficult moments, a priest can experience a profound satisfaction that they have been an instrument of God.

messenger of hope
Jesus Christ has an incredible impact on the world. The teachings of Christ have shaped the values of many societies and continue to shape those values today. A critical part of a priest’s mission is to tell Christ’s story of hope. That story brings comfort to those who are weak and without a voice. The story is intended to disturb and activate those who have the power to make the world a better place. Jesus’ message of hope is not always popular; many people have been killed for preaching the Gospel, but it is a powerful message that must be told.

spiritual guide
Today there is a strong awareness that people everywhere long to have spiritual nourishment. The Catholic community itself also needs to be fed with the body and blood of Christ. The priest of the future will continue that tradition of assisting people to develop their spirituality. The future priest will also need to explore ways of helping people make spiritual sense of their lives in a dynamic and changing world. Before doing these things, priests are students of prayer themselves. A priest develops his personal relationship with God, to learn the ways of God and to lead others on those paths.