Fifth session of Let’s Talk Faith (நம்பிக்கையை பேசுவோம்) Forum was held on Wednesday, March 06, 2024 at Deepagam, Don Bosco Catechetical Center, Kilpauk, Chennai. The topic for the day was Sacrament of Holy Orders. Only one-sitting (session) was observed for this Sacrament; Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick wasn’t not taken-up due to lack of time. Nineteen Catechists (who were attending Lay Apostolate training program at DBYAC, Ennore) and eight Salesians (of Chennai Province) took part in the discussion. Rev. Fr. Stanislaus Swamikannu, (the former Provincial), Rector of Don Bosco Youth Animation Center (DBYAC), Ennore directed this faith forum as Moderator. At the outset, Fr. John Christy (Director-Youth Ministry) introduced this forum to the participants.

The participants, when asked about their expectation on priests, shared that priest must be cheerful who can enthuse sense of brotherhood and be exemplary person. Priests should be a loving person while being the leader and head of the parish family, they added.

Moderator requested Salesians to express their outlook on the personhood of priests; and accordingly, Salesians present articulated that priests is representing God, making Christ present by being Christ; in this way, they are the contact between God and human, loving everyone in human fellowship and a hard worker to live with people and for the people, as other-Christ.

At this point of discussion and sharing, the mind-stirring question was put forth for the participants: “Can we find all these qualities in a priest”? Participants were reminded of the humanness of priesthood. Howsoever, priest must not discriminate others by class (between rich and poor) and castes. Priests need to inculcate forgiving attitude, be liberated from self-centredness, must not impose his interests, and as co-pilgrims must be with people (not in room and office).

The Salesians further brought to awareness that priest as shepherd, should be all for all, free from selfishness, discriminative attitude, and not lover of money. Priest in and through his life, must share the Word of God with faithful, they remarked.

The forum Moderator, Rev. Fr. Stanislaus made the forum participants be aware of the indelible mark of priesthood, while exercising the triple ministries of Christ in today’s setting: Sanctification, Evangelization (teaching and preaching) and Governance (administration).

As to the evangelizing ministry, the lay people present felt that sermons aren’t prepared well and it is not addressing the life situation; hence, laity aren’t interested to take part in the sermon as active listeners. Salesians in response to the lay people expounded thus; preparation for mass (sermons) according to lay participation is challenging because, the congregation also comprises of youth and children, apart from the adults. As to the reaction by laity over the “eight-minutes sermon”, Salesian participant highlighted that God inspires the preacher. Word of God touches those who listen to God, irrespective of the preparation. The fact is, Christ preaches through the priest. It is normally, not addressed to the specific age group. Being the double-edged sword, the Word of God consoles some, while at the same time, reprimands others.

Ministry of Sanctification is often identified with external cult, which is not relevant to the laity; it is often construed that sanctification is priest-centered and Church is seen as “Blessing House”. Priest is the representative of Jesus Christ; irrespective of priests’ nature and condition, laity experiences God through the presence of priest in difficult stages in life and family. Hence, priest must be available at all times, for the laity.

Ministry of Governance entails that priests and faithful to be disciplined and available; principles of Christ must be upheld by the priest, who need to accept laity in the state of servant-authority. Ministerial priesthood and common priesthood (of lay people) must be united in the integral Church. Actually, the integration of ministerial and common priesthoods do not exist in proper sense. For example, sharing leadership is a perennial challenge. The reason for the fall in priestly vocation now-a-days are two-kid families, less faith of the parents, no more joint-family settings in today’s India.

The forum that began at 15:15 PM was concluded at 4:30 PM. Rev. Fr. Don Bosco, the Provincial graced the occasion and distributed certificate of participation to Lay Apostle Trainees. Fr. Jesudoss concluded the forum, thanking Rev. Fr. Stanislaus, the Salesians and the Catechists present in this Faith Talk.