Yesterday, April 7, our resident guest priest, Fr. Jimmy Segun celebrated his forty-seventh (47th) year in the priesthood (1962). I concelebrated with him to join him in his celebration. It was definitely a feat for him to have served for those number of years! I said after mass that I was merely five years old when he was ordained. It was the most simple sacerdotal celebration I have ever witnessed. Fr. Jimmy, I believed, did not even consider celebrating it until I joined him and told him that our mass will be for his anniversary. He was even wearing a violet stole and the books were prepared for the daily mass.
I know he had his reasons in the way he would want to celebrate his anniversary, but I thought that we owed it to him to at least honor him by offering that mass as a thanksgiving for the gift of priesthood. Some servants and parishioners were generous and considerate enough to prepare some gifts for him during the offertory. They applauded him after the mass as a mark of their appreciation of his presence and valuable assistance in the parish.
In his homily he cited the common tendency and need of people for change. He said that there are parishioners who, after having a priest for some years or have thought that they have had enough of their priests, move for a change of parish priest. He said that burnt out is not just for a priest but for parishioners themselves. Parishioners express burnt out for their priest. He criticized it by saying that such a move is not good a source of real change. Rather than a change of parish priest, he recommended a change in the parishioners themselves. He further said that a parish may regularly change a parish priest but if the parishioners would not change, then they will always experience burn out. And what if all priests had served the parish? Just a wild thought to drive home his point that more than the change of priests, what must happen is a change in the parishioner's attitude. Change of parish priest is relatively easier than change in parishioners. Ultimately, the change in parishioners would matter much in salvation while the change of parish priest has minute effects.
While he was giving his homily, I further reflected on his message from the point of view of the parish priest. After the new church had been built, there had been times that I wanted to be transferred to another parish, for some personal reasons. Unfortunately, up to now, it has not been granted, for some reasons too! But there lies the difference between the parish priest and the parishioner; priests have no choice but to stay while parishioners may opt to go to another church to worship. The priest had made a commitment. We have offered ourselves to God and the community. We had committed to be the vicar of Christ for everyone in order to ensure the perpetuation of the saving work Jesus had initiated and fulfilled when He died on the cross. The gift of priesthood that we share from the Priesthood of Christ is at the dispense of the the faithful for the purpose of salvation. And Fr. Jimmy, in spite of his unworthiness, weaknesses, defects, and even sinfulness, had fulfilled that commitment for nearly fifty years! No mean feat by any standards. I would be lucky if I even reach three-fourths of that!
Before the final blessing from Fr. Jimmy, I rose to congratulate him and thank God for the gift of priesthood. In behalf of all those whom Fr. Jimmy had baptized, married, confirmed, given communion to, presided mass to, anointed, and facilitated their reconciliation with God, I thanked him wholeheartedly! In forty-seven years, I know he had served many! Then, we prayed that he will continue to be a holy and good priest for God and for His People!
God bless you Fr. Jimmy!
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