Christ in the Family, Fr. James Glass, OSB

There are three ways a priest can exercise his ordained ministry in our monastery. One is to remain inside the Abbey and attend to the sacramental needs of the community, by celebrating Mass and ministering to the spiritual needs of the monks, visitors, and retreatants. Another is to engage in sacramental ministry at Benedictine High School, where there is an ongoing need for teaching theology, Mass, and confessions. A third avenue is to engage in Parish ministry. For the past several years, I have found my niche in parish work ..a “Monk-Priest.”

     I think the driving force behind my desire to work in the parish is my love and concern for the average Catholic family. I really do believe that family is the key to solving most of the problems facing the Church today, including the vocations crisis. Without a spiritual community in which a husband and wife can grow, worship together, and raise a child, there is little hope for generating new vocations or maintaining a vital spiritual life. I often feel that priests exist primarily to support the needs of families. Perhaps this is why in the seminary, I chose Marriage and the Family as a Reflection of the Trinity as my Masters thesis. I believe successful families are the key to the renewal of the Catholic Church and society.

  Since my ordination, I have been involved with four local Parishes. Presently I am Pastor of St. Theresa in Farmville. Each experience has been very, very good, as the people of the parishes have been enormously supportive and affirming of my ministry.

     While I live in the Parish, I return to the Abbey on a regular basis, usually one day a week. It is still my permanent address, the home of my brothers.

     I often try to share monastic insights in my homilies. Living a community life is a unique experience, yet I think it often corresponds to family life. Occasionally I will share some trials, tribulation, or humorous anecdote in my community life (without naming monks, of course), because they are the same things that happen in family relationships. I also quote the Rule of St. Benedict which contains much scripture and often has great commentary that can spiritually benefit the average Christian. The 12 steps of humility, for example, make fascinating homily material when applied to the modern world.

     Overall, I am very happy working as a Parish priest. Being a monk and working in the parish has given me the best of both worlds. I have some independence and the joy of working with Catholic families and students, yet I always have a permanent family of my own to which I can go “home.” I pray that God will raise up many more monks and priests who can also find their niche, for the need is very great right now both inside and outside the monastery. The Abbey and Benedictine High School are also critical oases of grace to serve the needs of Catholic families in the Richmond area.

     May the Lord bless all of you who continue to support the Richmond Monks in so many ways.