The quiet shepherd
When bishop asked me to come here, he described the parish and the school as a very vibrant place with many ministries and young people who were involved in the life of the parish. For the first three months I tried to engage myself in many of the activities. When questions arose, I would just reply that I was observing. After being in ministry 30 years, wisdom teaches that when you go to a new place, it is not about imposing your own will, and what you know. It’s about observing the life of the parish and starting from there.
Before being an administrator, I should be the spiritual father of the parish. Because sometimes in all the administrative aspects of life, the human touch of relationship gets sacrificed. From the spiritual aspect of my life as a priest, there needs to be a human touch, a shepherd’s touch. That’s why during the Mass for the young people, I try to approach them, and project that image. Rather than simply celebrating in the sanctuary, I go down and ask them questions. I try to create interest and let them participate. That’s why I also play basketball regularly with our Life Teens.
In my work with the various councils and boards, I say that we have to work together now on the things we see we need to improve. Six months later, I can no longer conveniently reply “I don’t know.” The level of engagement has changed. Parishioners have gotten to know me better and have seen my style of leadership. There were a lot of plans for the parish that were set before I came. I hope that this coming new year, with more participation of parishioners, we can realize those plans.
People sometimes ask me, “Father, when do you find time to prepare your homilies?” As early as Monday, I go through the readings for the Sunday liturgy. iBreviary is a very convenient app I have on my phone. It contains the readings of the day in the missal, and all the prayers and rites, everything.
By Saturday, I make sure I have found time to keep silent for at least three hours. So, aside from the daily obligations of prayer, after lunch on Saturday, I go to my room, turn off my phone, and quiet down. I have to internalize what I have already prepared. I cannot take for granted what I have to share with our parishioners on a Sunday, because I know that a good number of them only come once a week. It’s not fair if they prepare themselves to come to liturgy, and if I, as the presider, don’t prepare well for them.
That is my way of life. I am basically not an outgoing person. I was trained to survive alone, and I was trained to live in a community. I also was given assignments, critical assignments with a lot of pressure, and a school with 600 students before. It always helps to make time for prayer and silence. Or, as I do when I am down or in high spirits, or just alone, I start humming, “The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.” Because even as a priest, I would like to think of that.
Father Edmundo Barut is a diocesan priest of the Diocese of Bangued, Abra, in the Philippines. A priest for 20 years, he is the administrator of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Ewa Beach. In his free time, he enjoys doing calligraphy and charcoal drawing.
