Companions on the journey
My favorite Scripture passage is the whole chapter of John 17. It begins, “When Jesus had said this, he raised his eyes to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give eternal life to all you gave him. Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.’”
This chapter is a gradual reflection on Jesus as he finishes up his mission and leaves his final teachings with those who are looking forward to his ascension. My work as a priest is to help others toward this eternal life.
Some may ask whether the change from being a hospice chaplain to being a pastor is difficult. I have been here at St. Joseph Church for several months now. In the Archdiocese of Kampala, Uganda, where I came from, I served in both positions. They are both different. In the hospital, you deal with the sick and dying; in the parish you deal with the pastoral needs of the people.
You cannot say that one work is more important than the other. Each has its own challenges. Hospice work can be stressful as one helps others toward their ending time. Parish work holds a different kind of stress and energy as you help the healthy and strong be aware of the afterlife, and help them to attain it. Death is not an enemy; it is a means to eternal life.
Aside from personally reflecting on John 17, I like to read books about the life of Christ. St. Augustine’s writing on the “City of God” is a special work. When people encounter struggles in life, and ask how they can act like Christ through these difficulties, I point them to St. Augustine. He himself was a struggler. But when he embraced the love of Christ, things changed. It is a wonderful teaching. His mother St. Monica struggled with him as she prayed for him. Never give up. It is part and partial of our humanity to have struggles in life. We can find inspiration through Scripture and the stories of the lives of the saints as they too have struggled in life and triumphed at the end patching up the pieces and continuing on.
Our small community here is a very supportive one. On First Fridays we have the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for an hour. I find it most rewarding and enriching to do my morning prayers, go to Mass, and spend time in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Our church also has a very good choir which I enjoy listening to. Other things that give me energy are going for good walks, swimming and giving talks to the youth and youth ministry. We are all companions on the journey.
Father Leonard Ssempijja is a parochial vicar at St. Joseph Parish, Makawao, Maui. He was ordained a priest on July 16, 1994, in the Archdiocese of Kampala, Uganda.