Another day, another lesson learned.

I have found every day to be a new opportunity for growth and learning. Early on, Fr. Steven Olds, my former formation advisor at seminary, told me that there would be one guarantee in priestly ministry: that challenges would come across my desk everyday.

I have to say, as I continue to the later half of my first year as a priest, that I have found it at times to be overwhelming. People with various needs come to my attention every day: from the person needing assistance with their power bill to a person still grieving the loss of a loved one. At times I find myself helpless in the sight of the problems placed before me. I have even caught myself saying, "Why are they coming to me?" or "Why do they always come to the Church?"

It is then I realize, there is only one Savior Jesus Christ, and I am not he. I act in the person of Christ, but I am not Christ. I share in the priesthood of Jesus Christ, and so those seeking Christ will come my way. It is my role and duty to step back and allow the Holy Spirit to guide my minsitry to those in need.

It is in those moments that I feel overwhelmed is when I get merely a glimpse of the deep yearning that this world has for Christ. I pray that through the love of God, the priesthood of Jesus Christ, and grace of Holy Spirit, my ministry will be fruitful, that Christ may touch the lives of those who seek him every day.

Taking Away Our Stony Hearts

I remember it like yesterday. We lined up in the pews with our Act of Contrition in our little hands and one-by-one entered the confessional for the first time to receive the forgiveness of our sins. I remember Fr. Gordon, my home pastor, being appropriately short and to the point with this young lad. He offered a few words of encouragement together with 3 Hail Marys and one Our Father for my penance. I prayed the Act of Contrition and he granted me absolution! WOW! Just like that: Thank you, Jesus! I felt great knowing I was renewed, given a fresh start, and always have after making a good confession.

Well, I had another first this past weekend: 1st Reconciliation with the children in the Religious Education program. They were adorable. Obviously they were well prepared by their parents and teachers—I coached just a little bit. They came in with a stone that had a red heart painted on it symbolizing their bad choices, actions, and behaviors that made their hearts hardened—awwwwe!

During their confessions some squirmed about, others mimicked my hand gestures, and still others stared intently at me as I spoke to them a few more words than Fr. Gordon did to me a “few years” earlier. To begin the celebration we sang “This Little Light Of Mine”. So for their penance I asked them to sing that for as much as God wanted them (aloud or silently) remembering that Jesus wants them to shine, shine, shine for Him, their parents, family, and friends! They were agreeable.

I would ask them right before the prayer of absolution if they knew what came next and they all said, “The forgiveness of sins!” It was great to see the excitement in their eyes—a grace to be asked for each day before the mysteries of faith. Absolution was granted and they left to pin their, forgiven, re-freshed, natural, non-stony heart that had their name on them on to the display board in the church—awwwwwwwwwwwwe!

Glory to you, Lord Jesus for the gift of the Sacrament of Reconciliation! May this priest always be a faithful confessor and even more faithful penitent!

Father Will Ganci

Emmanuel: God With Us

"Have yourself a rainy little Christmas, as the fog descends, from now on your car will be covered in dew. So have yourself, a rainy, foggy Christmas now."

The first Christmas as a priest was an extraordinary experience. From the children's Christmas Vigil mass, to the contemporary Christmas Vigil mass, the Midnight mass, and the Sunday morning masses, I was tired, but it was a good kind of tired. I found it very fitting that there was a rainstorm on Christmas eve. In the midst of some very crazy weather, we were inside celebrating the birth of Christ and Christ's presence among us amidst the rainy storm that is sometimes our lives.

This Christmas was difficult in the fact I was not able to visit family, but this allowed me to visit my parish family member's in their time of difficultly. This Christmas gave me a glimpse of what it is like for those who are not able to visit family on Christmas, like our soldiers over seas. This Christmas allowed me to grow into my vocation more fully. Dying to myself, and giving Christ to others.

This Christmas I have a lot to be thankful for. I am thankful foremost for priesthood I share with Jesus Christ. I am thankful for a parish family that has been sooooo supportive and caring. I am thankful for the ability to suffer with those who suffer so much greater than I. I am thankful for God's presence in our lives. I may not experience God's presence at every moment, but I know that my God is a living God, that walks at my side every step of my life.