Father Thomas Welbers' Homily	Jump back to Homily Index
Fourth Sunday of Easter, May 11, 2003 Acts 4:8-12 1 John 3:1-2 John 10:11-18	Listen to Audio

Did you see who is featured on the insert in this week’s parish bulletin? It’s none other than our own, beloved, Monsignor Bill Barry! He’s been retired for almost nine years now, and last month celebrated his 84th birthday, and he is still very active as a priest. Not only does he return to OLA frequently for special events, he assists by celebrating Mass in other parishes where he is needed, and continues to be very active in Engaged Encounter, helping young couple prepare for marriage.

After long and dedicated service to God’s people, in retirement he still pours himself out in love and service. As pastor now, I continue to be grateful for the fabulous legacy he left here at Our Lady of the Assumption. As most of you know, I first got to know him that year we spent together in Rome, back in 1972, when he was already a seasoned pastor, sharing the gift of his experience and wisdom with young seminarians preparing for ordination, and I was there studying liturgy after my first parish assignment. That started a lifelong friendship during which I frequently admired his qualities of love and leadership as a truly good shepherd, faithful in tending the flock of the Lord’s people.

Thirty-five years ago, when I was ordained, it was almost unheard-of for a priest to retire. He simply stayed on as pastor until he died, with the parish caring for him even if ill or incapacitated. Things have gotten a lot more complicated since then, both in the world and in the church. The reality now is that retirement is as much a concern for priests as it is for everybody else. It’s no longer something we can take for granted.

For this reason, Cardinal Mahony established a pension plan for priests in 1993, and three years ago, an anonymous donor offered a $500,000 matching grant every year for ten years, on the condition that an annual collection be taken up. That is why we are asking your support in next week’s collection. I’m still a few years behind Msgr. Barry, but I too look forward to a retirement when I can have the freedom and support to continue serving the Lord’s people according to whatever abilities the Lord may leave me.

The image of the good shepherd in today’s Gospel is one that is very dear to my heart. There is a wonderful image of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, in our rectory prayer chapel that nourishes my own prayer every morning, and moves me not only to pray for you, but to pray that I may be faithful in serving you.

In Jesus’ day, unlike our own, those who tilled the soil and raised farm animals had a relationship of respect for the plant and animal life in their care. They realized that, whether they served to provide clothing or food, they were part of God’s creation to be cherished and loved. Today we too often look at the rest of creation, even sometimes human life, in terms of exploitation – what can we get out of it. The model of the Good Shepherd speaks not only to priests, but to each of us, how to cherish and respect the gifts that God has given, and to use them for the glory of their Giver.

One of the gifts that God gives to a few for the benefit of all, is the gift of a call to the priesthood. Is God calling fewer young men to serve in this way? Or are fewer responding? We really don’t know. But what we can be sure of is that having enough priests modeling their lives after the Good Shepherd is surely God’s business, and for us to recognize and support God’s business requires prayer. And so, let us not fail to pray for vocations.

© Thomas Welbers, 2003