Can you recommend any amazing priests?
They don’t have to be high-profile, well-known or
celebrities. They might be unsung heroes, living in remote places of the world,
but quietly giving their lives for the betterment of our world and for the
greater glory of God. They may have made sacrifices such as moving from a
comfortable life in an American suburb – to working in the slums of Calcutta. I’m
collecting names of priests who are very good examples of living the Gospels,
who inspire others to be priests and who persevere against the odds to do good.
If you have any contact details for the priests, then let me know. I would like to speak and/or write to a number
of the priests. My research will inform
a story about priests who are working all over the world and giving their lives
for the betterment of humanity.
Catholicism is a global religion and it would be great to get an
international flavour.
I look forward to
reading your suggestions!
Sydney's most famous priest is Fr Chris Riley who founded Youth of the Streets. Www.catholicweekly.com.au should have plenty of stories about him.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to recommend two : Fr.John Predmore S.J and Fr. Austin Fleming.
ReplyDeleteFind out more on Fr Predmore in this link from my own blog.
http://blueeyedennis-siempre.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/prayers-for-friend-and-missionary.html
Fr Austin's blogs are at A Concord Pastor comments where his wonderful series of Ten Minutes A Day Prayers and Monday Morning Offerings sustain me and many others.
Blessings
Fr. Andrew Apostoli is involved with EWTN and is an Ignatius Press author. He has presented EWTN programs on many tops, including Padre Pio, and is a Fatima expert. Sorry I don't have a contact email for him. From Ignatius Press bio: Fr. Andrew Apostoli, C.F.R. is a founding member of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, has been active in teaching, preaching retreats and parish missions, and in giving spiritual direction. Fr. Apostoli is the vice-postulator for the cause for the canonization of Archbishop Fulton Sheen.
ReplyDeleteFr. Apostoli is the author of numerous books, including “Following Mary to Jesus: Our Lady as Mother, Teacher, and Advocate” (Word Among Us) and “Walk Humbly With Your God: Simple Steps to a Virtuous Life” (Servant).
A frequent host on the Eternal Word Television Network, Fr. Apostoli hosted the television special “Our Lady of Fatima and the First Saturday Devotion” seen on EWTN.
Hi Mary. I have nominated you for the "One Lovely Blog Award". It is an award that makes its way around the blogosphere, and is passed on to blogs that we other bloggers love to read :)
ReplyDeleteYou can pick it up here - http://average-catholic.com/2012/06/21/one-lovely-blog-award-the-winner-is/
A million thanks for nominating me for the blog award - it's very kind and considerate of you to think of me.
DeleteYour blog is a delight and very well written. I invite all my readers to check out http://average-catholic.com/
God bless you and your intentions,
Mary
I would like to recommend Father Thomas Joseph from India who formerly worked with Mother Theresa of Calcutta helping her with the sick and dying. Father Thomas is my parish Priest here in Minnesota USA and now ministers to the Hispanic Community of Catholic and travels many distances to attend to the Sacramental needs of Hispanics throughout our Diocese of Minneapolis/Saint Paul. He is a tireless worker in God's Vineyard for the poor and spends every waking moment to bring the good news to those who are starving for the Word of God. My family emigrated to the USA from Cork, Ireland.
DeleteHi Mary,
ReplyDeleteMissionary priest Fr. Pio Mandato, grew up on Padre Pio's home town and received his first Holy Communion from him.
http://www.capemaycountyherald.com/83620-healing+mass+fr.+pio+mandato+fmhj
Peace,
Frank
Dear Frank,
DeleteThank you very much for all your dilligent help in finding great candidates for this list of amazing priests - may God reward you!
I look forward to learning more about Fr Pio Mandato - I'm just about to read up on him.
God bless you forever,
Mary
Mary, the mother of Fr. Pio Mandato wrote a book telling about the family's encounters with Padre Pio while living in his home town. The Mandatos are also relatives on Padre's mother's side. The book is called "Padre Pio: Encounters With a Spiritual Daughter From Pietrelcina."
Deletehttp://articles.philly.com/2002-12-22/news/25358591_1_san-giovanni-rotondo-padre-pio-pietrelcina
Frank
Dear Mary,
ReplyDeleteI offer a priest who has gone before us and never left our memory or hearts, having witnessed the following:
In early April, 1990, we were waiting in a limousine outside St. Gabriel the Archangel church in Brooklyn, New York, to begin the funeral Mass of our Aunt Betty--our cousin Inez Monello's mother. There was some sort of delay and we waited quite a long while in the car, not knowing exactly what was wrong, at times a bit annoyed. Then...out the front window of the limo we saw the white-haired priest suddenly appear up ahead on the other side of the street, rushing across the street almost apologetically...a concerned look on his face. His name was Fr. George Wilders. Into the church side-entrance he went, and soon after the funeral Mass was underway. During the homily we noticed he kept shifting from foot to foot, apparently painfully, but I remember his homily was heartfelt and he looked at all of us, straight to our grief. I remember saying, when back in the car, that he gave a beautiful, compassionate homily, which must have been how many hundreds of funerals since his first, but which was to me fresh with the consolations of our Faith. He waited for us in the back of the church as we followed the casket out, and shook our hands with warm caring. I told him his homily was beautiful, but my words seemed so ordinary to me, compared to the way I felt.
We found out only hours later that Fr. Wilders had been delayed because he had just come from his chemotherapy treatment. His shifting from foot to foot was surely his pain and weakness and suffering, and reminds me of how the crucified, Our Lord Himself, one might say, attempted to shift and raise the body on the cross to ease the excruciating pain and suffocation.
Father George Wilders died on July 4, 1990, three months after Aunt Betty's funeral. . . We have never forgotten this holy priest, representing many of the unsung hero-priests throughout Christianity. We remember him as a priest who thought of his flock during his own suffering, and was blessed to steer his part of Our Lord's ship, during his time, in his small church...in a neighborhood. And we were blessed to witness...his own witness to the truth of Jesus Christ Crucified. . . and loving.
We are happy to share this immense part of his story. . .
Jeanette Salerno, Joan Salerno, Inez Monello
Dear Jeanette, Joan and Inez,
DeleteHeartfelt thanks for sharing this amazing account of Fr George Wilders with me and all my readers.
May we meet Fr Wilders in Heaven!
Warmest wishes and with much gratitude for your witness of Fr Wilders,
Mary