May 17, 2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

On May 17, 2008, I received the greatest gift of my life: ordination to the priesthood of Jesus Christ. For most of these 18 years, St. Pius X has been my home and my point of reference. This parish has been the community in which I have lived out that gift of priesthood. Over the last few weeks, I have used this space to reflect on the gift of this parish and have tried to express my gratitude for all that this community is in my life. As I celebrate one last priestly anniversary with all of you, I would like to offer some thoughts on the priesthood itself, rooted in the threefold munera, or offices, of Jesus, who is priest, prophet, and king.

The priestly office – the munus sanctificandi, in theological terms – reminds the priest that he must sanctify the world. In order to sanctify the world, he must become holy himself. It’s a tall order, and one which I am still working on. A priest is called upon to pray very often. You learn quickly as a priest that you are the default sayer of grace at any meal, and that you will be entrusted with countless prayer intentions. A priest friend often says that his purgatory will be spent praying for all the people he said he would pray for but forgot. But more than the perfunctory invocations or benedictions I am asked to offer, it is when called upon to pray with people through sickness, death, grief, difficulty, transition, joy, and those moments that defy explanation that I most fully recognize the call to sanctify and to be sanctified. For it is in those moments that I know how little I can really do, and it is in those moments that I most fully rely on God’s grace and strength. To be a priest does not mean that I am holy, only that I am called upon to bring holiness to people, and in the process, I am purified and challenged to greater virtue.

The prophetic, or teaching office – the munus docendi – encompasses the priest’s responsibility to proclaim the Gospel and to hand on the Catholic faith. Teaching the way that Jesus teaches is not always an easy task. Jesus Himself faced opposition. For His priests it is no different. Handing on the Catholic faith is not always easy, especially when the teaching of the Gospel flies in the face of the logic of our secular world. While over these 18 years, I think I can give myself decent marks as a preacher, I sometimes wonder what kind of grade I deserve in the “boldness” and “courageous” categories. Sometimes a priest must proclaim a message that is unpopular or difficult, but proclaim it he must. I pray that I have been faithful to that call, and that wherever I have hesitated or lacked the courage of my convictions, it can be known now that my only desire is to hand on the divine and Catholic faith, and for anyone who hears me to turn all the more to Jesus Christ, conforming their lives to Him each day.

The kingly, or governing office – the munus regendi – pertains to a priest’s responsibility to lead and govern. A priest is entrusted with the temporal goods of the church and with real leadership of people. It is no easy task to be an administrator, and I have learned that safeguarding the material goods of a parish cannot happen without competent staff and advisors – a category in which I have been abundantly and undeservedly blessed. Leadership expressed as spiritual fatherhood is the goal, not mere earthly power. Over the years, the reality of spiritual fatherhood and the authority that comes with it has been manifested to me again and again. I want no earthly power, and I treasure the privilege it is to be called “father.”

The priesthood is the greatest gift I have ever received. No man is called to the priesthood because he deserves it, but because God chooses to work through imperfect human vessels to bring His grace to the world. Please pray for your priests, please pray for an increase in priestly vocations. If you have ever considered a vocation to the priesthood, please say yes. The Lord needs you, the Church needs you.

Peace,

Fr. Sam