Opinion: A Belief or Judgment that Rests on Grounds Insufficient to Produce Complete Certainty

After reaching my 50^th birthday a few years ago, I dare say I am (reasonably? considerably? certainly? undoubtedly?) past my mid-life point.  If I unknowingly had a mid-life crisis, I guess it was somehow sandwiched in between busyness and turmoil.  I have been around the block a few times and not because of a desire to exercise.  I’ve found, along life's bumpy path, I’m becoming much more opinionated.  Is this a good thing or a bad thing?  I really don’t know.  But I’ve decided to express my opinion on a few issues which are not officially Church teaching or dogmas—just a matter of personal taste.  (Please excuse me if I ramble a bit.  Most people who express opinions tend to do this and I am simply following suit.)

• Beware the Ides of March . . . and the Elections of November

I am sick of politics (and of many high-profile politicians).  Who lies?  Who tells the truth?  Who really represents and tries to assist the average person and who is self-serving?  So often it gets to be a case of choosing the lesser of two evils (can I morally do this?) because I don’t really like any candidate in far too many elections.  I feel sorry for the honest person who enters politics with a noble intention and who is determined to change the system because he or she will probably be surrounded by a cesspool of corruption.  It’s hard to stay untainted when you are immersed in so much garbage and waste.  I have said many times before and I continue to pray that I will never sell my soul to any political party.  (My soul belongs completely to Jesus, thank you very much.)  I usually vote for the person—as opposed to any party—with whom I may agree because of the positions for which he or she officially stands.  And making that decision for a particular candidate isn’t easy.  I compare it to the choice between hanging and the guillotine.  Either one brings various unpleasantries with the same end result.  Gulp!

• The “Boob-Tube” Lives

Most television is a waste of time and energy.  How can we have so many channels and still conclude that “there’s nothing to watch?”  Reality TV is far from my real life.  Talk shows are frequently shared ignorance sessions.  The News is mostly bad, depressing and frequently slanted depending on the network.  Premium cable TV has too much perversion.  Far too many shows push a particular political or social agenda, whatever may be in vogue.  Philadelphia sports teams usually stink.  I’d rather watch that test-pattern from the days when the stations would go off the air in the middle of the night.  At least then they gave us a break and not an infomercial.

• The Hills are Alive with the Sound of ?*!#@

Much of the music today has no enduring quality.  Let me first establish the fact that I really love music.  I’ve listened to it continuously since I was a small child.  I have a rather eclectic taste—from classical to pop. I have dabbled at playing the piano and have even attempted to write some songs as well as liturgical hymns.  Unfortunately, I find that so much of today’s music borders on vulgar (Warning:  explicit contents) or is just really poor quality.  Yes, there are a few very talented people and some good material being written.  I gravitate to that.  But, I think, most of what I hear in contemporary music would unfortunately surround me in Hell for all eternity in unending cacophonous torture (a la Manuel Noriega), if I don’t make it to those Pearly Gates.  The fires of Gehenna pale in comparison!

As a side note, save me from “church music” that is still stuck in the Kumbaya days, sounds like a love song or pop tune, or is something that is more suited for the Broadway stage.  Church music should raise our minds and hearts to God and should be unique (unlike other secular music) for the purpose of Divine worship.  Shouldn’t we give God something that is our ultimate—our very best?  If I can imagine the hymn being “performed” by Patti LuPone from the balcony of the Casa Rosada, if it sounds like I’m ready to propose to someone with ring in hand, or if it’s something longing to come out of the mouths of the boys of One Direction, then maybe it’s not suitable to raise my mind and heart to God.  While I’m at it, if it feels like I am waiting for a Bob Dylan wannabe to lead us in song or for “That ‘70s Show” to appear miraculously on a flat screen TV in front of the altar, please keep it out of the church!  Bring on the Gregorian Chant!  I think that they may have been on to something back then, in my humble opinion.

• The Too-Smart-for-Its-Own-Good Phone

How did we ever exist without a mobile phone?  When I was young, text referred to a book and a tweet came from a bird’s mouth.  There was no such thing as driving while on the mobile phone (we drove on the highway) or while texting.  Phones didn’t go off regularly in churches and other formerly sacrosanct localities.  The fact is we are addicted to our phones and we use them constantly, for everything.  Person to person communication now involves a mobile device which has an app capable of bringing all things to all people.  Just think of it, and there’s probably an app to do it!  Thinking?  Yes, there’s an app for that!

• Bringing It In for a Landing 

I have too many additional concerns and unanswered questions plaguing me right now.  Let me try to make a quick summary of the varied trepidations in my brain, rather than formulate an opinion about each of them.  I've babbled enough already.

I pray that we be delivered from the apathy, indifference, negativism, relativism, secularism, selfishness, rationalizing, perversion, etc., etc., currently permeating much of society.  At the same time, I ask for wisdom and understanding concerning a few troublesome matters in today’s world:  Why is life so cheap that we dispose of it so easily?  How long can we exist as a society with the traditional family unit disintegrating so quickly that it’s becoming unrecognizable?  Why do we infrequently talk to God (pray and worship) and then blame Him for everything disastrous that comes down the pike?  Why do we disregard moral teachings founded on solid biblical principles—principles that have guided peoples for centuries—and make them appear so irrelevant for our “enlightened” society?  How long will God be patient with us as we seem to close our eyes and ears, hearts and minds to Him?

As I said in the beginning, these are some of my opinions (and the various thoughts and worries that accompany them).  I don’t claim to be a sage or scholar.  I am simply reflecting on what I see, continually seeking the Truth and, perhaps, rambling a bit.  Feels a bit therapeutic.

    

I humbly defer, however, to the Almighty for the final say in all matters.

(Rev.) Edward Namiotka

“Oh, You’re Going to Keep It!?”

My sister and her two sons

When I was sixteen years old my mother and father announced to my three brothers and me that we were going to have an addition to our family.  My mom was now pregnant at 43 years old.  My parents hadn’t had any additional children for about a decade.  Everyone was truly surprised—really a bit stunned—by this latest news!

My mother went to an ob-gyn for an initial visit.  When she returned I could see that she was visibly shaken.  My mother and father were debating whether or not they should continue using the doctor that she had just seen.  My mom’s former doctor—the one who had delivered some of my siblings—had retired some years ago and she had to choose someone else for the care and delivery of her next baby.

I later learned the reason for their immediate concern.  It was the doctor’s troubling statement during my mom’s office visit:  “Oh, you’re going to keep it!?”  I guess that he thought that she had come to him to abort the child.  This was the furthest thing from my parents’ intentions—no matter how old my mother was.

This “it”, my sister Cathy—the only sister that I have—now has two children of her own.  She and my mom are extremely close.  The two little grandchildren, the youngest of the ten, are just so adorable (objectively speaking, of course!) and truly keep my mom going day after day.

I often think of what life would be like without my sister and, consequently, without her two children.  What if another tragic decision had been made so that “it” would be all that she was known as, or referred to, by those trying to deny that she ever existed in the first place?

I once wrote a poem trying to express my feelings over this loss of potential—a human life, a human person never given the opportunity to live.  I have thought about “it” over and over again since the horrific trial of Dr. Kermit Gosnell hit the Philadelphia news.

I have already put this poem to a basic tune and hope to have it as a completed song someday.

I Cried

I cried—no one heard me

Yet I cried—

For I was inside

Of my mother’s womb.

I longed to be held in her arms,

To be fondled and caressed,

To take milk from my mother’s breast

And to laugh.

Such beauty and warmth of life

I could enjoy,

Play with my first toy

And begin to love.

I could leave my print on the world:

Wisdom to span the ages,

As the knowledge of sages

Of years past.

Still, more than this all, I long for life

--That gift God-given—

And the chance to live in

His created world.

I cried—and no one heard me

For I was inside of my mother’s womb.

Little did I know it would be my tomb.

I cried.

© 1982 Edward F. Namiotka

Homily for the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

(Cycle C - Is. 6: 1-2a, 3-8; 1 Cor. 15: 1-11; Lk. 5: 1-11)

I am a sinner.

I don’t always do what I am supposed to do.

I don’t always have the patience with people that I should have.

I sometimes make people angry—or at least annoy them.

I have not always cooperated with God’s grace to the extent that I should have.

I am not perfect—far from it!  I am not the Messiah.  I am not God.

I am a sinner.

As a matter of fact, when we begin Mass and recite the Confiteor as part of the Penitential Rite, we all acknowledge our sinfulness:  “I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned . . . .”

If we look at today’s readings we can see that we are certainly in good company.

Isaiah in today’s 1^st reading has a vision of God.  He realizes his unworthiness and states that “I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips.” (Is. 6:5).  An angel takes an ember and touches Isaiah’s mouth with it and his sins are purged.  Isaiah then responds with enthusiasm to what happened to him:  “Here I am, send me!” (Is. 6:8)

In the 2^nd reading St. Paul (Saul) writes to the people of Corinth: “I am the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” (1 Cor. 15: 9)  We know from the Acts of the Apostles that Saul, as a zealous Pharisee, was responsible for having Christians arrested (Acts 8:3) and even was present at the death of St. Stephen when he was stoned to death. (Acts 7:58)

In today’s Gospel from St. Luke, St. Peter (Simon Peter) tells the Lord, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man” (Lk. 5:8) after the amazing catch of fish that was made.

Jesus doesn’t choose the best, the brightest, the holiest, the perfect, the sinless, to be his followers.  He chooses us with our flaws and imperfections.  He chooses sinners and invites us to become saints.

Realize that Jesus chose his 12 Apostles personally.  Jesus was God.  He could see into the human heart.  He knew what he was getting.  And yet he chose Judas who betrayed Him and Peter who denied Him three times when the going got tough.  Did Jesus make mistakes in His actions and choices?

I think, perhaps, this was meant to teach us a lesson about our free will and about our cooperating with God’s Grace, and should help us to realize that from the very early days of the Church there were scandals that the early Christians had to face.  The Gospels did not white-wash or cover-up the betrayal of Judas or the denial of Peter.  We read about this clearly in the Gospels.

As priests we occasionally hear the horror stories about people who stopped coming to Church because of something that Father said to them in the past, or the way that Sister treated them when they were in Catholic school.  People can hold on to things for a long time.  I am sorry that it has to be this way.  All I can do now is say: I am truly sorry for what happened.  Please realize that we are, unfortunately, imperfect sinners in need of the mercy and forgiveness of God.  We make mistakes.  We sin.

Please don’t take it out, however, on Jesus who suffered and died for us all.  He is sinless.  He is God.  He is the Messiah.

Please don’t blame the entire Catholic Church for the actions of one—or a few.  Sinners and saints have coexisted in the Church from its beginning days.

And realize that in our unworthiness, Jesus still calls us to be His followers, His disciples.  God calls us and chooses us to continue His mission in this day and age, in this time and place.  None of us are worthy.  It didn’t stop Isaiah, St. Paul or St. Peter even after they acknowledged their personal sinfulness.

God’s love, mercy and forgiveness are amazing.

Jesus' call to discipleship continues.

As Jesus told Peter, “Do not be afraid” to answer that call. 

Eat Mor Chikin?

Monthly Message to the Knights of Columbus

Dear Brother Knights,

The infamous Chick’n Controversy has been in the news this past month.  What did the founder of Chick-fil-A, Dan Cathy, actually say to ignite the firestorm?

"We are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit," he told the Biblical Recorder.  On the radio, he observed: "I think we are inviting God's judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and say we know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage." (Los Angeles Times, July 31, 2012)

Let’s consider some important facts as we examine this controversy.  First of all, as a citizen, our constitution grants Mr. Cathy freedom of speech and he is entitled to his opinion—whether or not everyone agrees with it.  Next, all of us should know that as human beings we have both an intellect and free-will which can be used for good and for bad, and from which we all make choices.  Mr. Cathy and all of us can reason and can make decisions.  He used his intellect and made a choice to support the traditional concept of marriage and family.  He also chose to speak publically about his beliefs. 

Another significant factor in this matter is that Catholics and most mainline, traditional or evangelical Christian denominations follow the teachings of the Bible as the inspired Word of God.  It is one of two essential foundations of our Catholic faith (Scripture and Tradition).  Those not holding the Bible as sacred or inspired would generally find some other source as their means of making moral or ethical judgments.

     

Apply these considerations to the current situation and observe what we get.  Some contend that Mr. Cathy should not be mixing business, politics, religion and his personal opinion.  In this instance, as in many others, it does seem to make for a volatile mix.  Some have taken an active position on either side of the issue—there have been both protests and a surge in sales in various locations.  Depending on one’s point of view, it becomes a moral issue, an issue of equal rights for gays, a freedom of speech issue, a definition of marriage issue, an issue of mixing of business, politics, and religion, etc.

Where do we, as Knights, fit in?  As faithful Catholics and American citizens we have the right to speak freely about what we believe—freedom of speech and freedom of religion found in the First Amendment of our Constitution give us rights and protections under law.  We have intelligence to sort through this issue (and issues like it) and free-will that enables to respond accordingly.  Moreover, our Catholic Church is instructed by a teaching authority (magisterium—the Pope united with his bishops) that we believe is guided in matters of faith and morals by the Holy Spirit to help us remain on the right course.

The USCCB (United Stated Conference of Catholic Bishops) teaches the following on a website entitled Marriage:  Unique for a Reason established by the bishops to instruct about marriage:

Basing her teaching on God’s revelation in Scripture and the meaning of the human person, created male and female in the image of God, the Catholic Church teaches that marriage is the lifelong partnership of mutual and exclusive fidelity between a man and a woman ordered by its very nature to the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of children (see Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1601; Code of Canon Law, can. 1055.1; Gaudium et Spes, no. 48).

Faithful Knights need to be informed about the current issues affecting our Church, learn the background and the implications involved in the various issues, pray fervently, and not be afraid to defend (with Christian charity) the teachings of our faith.

While you’re at it you also might want to buy a chicken sandwich, if you are so inclined.

Your intellect and free-will certainly allow for this!

Fr. Ed Namiotka

  

Mom

The lyrics that I wrote for a song about MOMS:

MOM

She wipes away my tear;

Provides a listening ear;

Her smile’s a work of art;

She holds me in her heart.

When I think about her, such joy comes to my face.

Everything about her is filled with love and grace.

She’s the one I run to in times both thick and thin

                She’s my best friend

                Like no other

                She’s my mother!

She shows me how to love,

Tells me ‘bout God above.

Finds sunshine in the rain,

Kisses away all pain.

When I think about her, such joy comes to my face.

Everything about her is filled with love and grace.

She’s the one I run to in times both thick and thin

                She’s my best friend

                Like no other

                She’s my mother!

Having a real bad day,

She makes it all okay!

Whenever I’m afraid

The worries quickly fade.

When I think about her, such joy comes to my face.

Everything about her is filled with love and grace.

She’s the one I run to in times both thick and thin

               

                She’s my best friend

                Like no other

                She’s a godsend

                That’s my mother!

               

                She’s my best friend

                Like no other

                She’s my mom!

©2012  Edward F. Namiotka

(To Cathy, Christopher and Evan)

Homily for Priests’ Jubilee Mass

Diocese of Camden

May 8, 2012

Bishop Galante, Fellow Jubilarians and my Brother Priests,

Truth be told, I started gathering the material for this homily about half a century ago—or more accurately, God started writing this homily in me that long ago.  That’s because I/we are all dealing with a “calling”—a mysterious, spiritual inner call from Jesus Christ through which He somehow touched all our  lives and invited us to be His disciples—some of us, His ordained priests.

The call comes differently to all of us, but I believe that it is there at the core of our being:  Come, follow me. (cf. John 1:43)

My calling started in my childhood days when I somehow realized and felt the inexplicable presence of God in my life.  As a very young introspective boy—somewhere around age 3 or 4—I vividly remember having a peculiar awareness and fear of death, crying myself to sleep at times, and praying to God that I never die.  I remember celebrating private Mass in my bedroom around age 6 using corn flakes—the available material in my family’s kitchen at the time—with a rosary hanging from my mirror.  I knew even then that there was some definite attraction to the priesthood.  I would serve Mass as an altar boy from around 3^rd grade on, being in the presence of priests and close to the Mass regularly.

Fast forward with me to a time in my teenage years when I was standing timidly along the cafeteria wall of Wildwood Catholic High School at a dance—checking out the girls, wondering whom I could ask to dance—when an annoying priest comes up to me and asks “Have you ever thought about being a priest?”  Go away.  Not now.  Bad timing, Father.  Sometime later I returned to admit to him how God was indeed moving me, moving my heart, in that very direction. 

On far too many occasions while following this call, I was nervous and concerned as I would echo the words of St. Peter:  Leave me Lord, I am a sinful man. (Luke 5:8)   I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s amidst the drinking and drug culture and free-love society present at the time.  I helped my parents operate a hotel and restaurant and later a motel while living at a seashore resort—Wildwood.  These surroundings were only one of the many tests of this vocation, this calling from God.  I realize over and over again my own total unworthiness—as we all should—and pray that I continue to seek conversion and holiness in my life.  I have fallen to my knees time and again seeking forgiveness and healing in the Sacrament of Penance.

     

The rest is history.  Two seminaries and eight years later, with an unexpected and might I add unwanted pastoral year thrown in just for the fun of it, I made it to the altar as a priest.

Could you imagine what I thought when a diocesan official (to remain nameless) said the following to me while I was on the way up the aisle at my ordination:  “You can still get out of this right up to the very last minute!”  I suppose he was just testing me.  Obviously he had no clue of how loudly and distinctly God had been calling me for years.  I realized in an indelible way that even diocesan officials are far from infallible in their decisions and actions.

My brothers, be careful what you say and do.  You can hurt people, even scar people—the People of God—in the process. 

Here I am a priest of Jesus Christ 25 years later.  My brothers, I hope that you can continue to say with me: I love being a priest.  I am convinced that it is what God called me to be.  Even in these days of scandal, confusion, lack of moral integrity, and ongoing struggles in the Church, I am proud to be an ordained Roman Catholic priest.  I am proud to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.  I still hear His call.

It hasn’t always been easy.  The letter M in the name of one of my former assignments wasn’t for the many ways they loved me.  Yet, I still try to this day to love and pray for all of my parishioners—former and current.

If we get to the core of what ministerial priesthood is all about, we see that God has given us the privilege of sharing what I refer to as a spiritual intimacy with Him and with His people.

We need to encounter God in prayer continually.  Whether in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, while reading and praying the Scriptures, while praying the rosary or our Divine Office, while attempting centering prayer, meditation, lectio divina, praying in tongues or most importantly, praying the Mass, we need to be in love with Jesus Christ.  If the romance and intimacy has faded, it needs to be rekindled.  Nothing that we do, nothing is more important than this!      

We share God’s intimacy with His people in all the sacraments, but especially and exclusively as a priest in the Holy Eucharist, in the confessional and when anointing the sick. 

Having just given our 1^st Communicants Our Lord for the first time these past two weeks in the parish reminded me of how we are privileged as priests to feed the Lord’s little lambs as well as His big sheep each and every day of our lives at Mass.  We speak the words of Our Lord:  This is my Body, this is my Blood.  And it happens!  Christ becomes truly present!  We proclaim and explain the Scriptures so that Christ is alive and present in the Word as well!  Even during those times when we may have to pray the Mass alone, we are never really alone as we join with the angels and saints in Heaven at the Eternal Banquet table praying for the People of God on earth as well as the Holy Souls.

During Advent and Lent I have the custom of asking people, after I hear their confessions, to pray for people who are away from the Church, away from the sacraments or away from God.  I ask that they pray for people to return to the faith.  Could you ever imagine how for years now I have never been disappointed by the power of this intercessory prayer?  This past Lent, among many, many others, someone returned to the Sacrament of Penance after being away for 40 years.  As priests, we bring Christ’s healing and forgiveness; we are instruments of His grace, to a world, to His people who need the forgiveness that can be experienced uniquely in this sacrament.

Visiting a hospital, a nursing home or a home-bound person affords us another spiritually intimate moment when we again can bring the presence of Christ to a hurting world.  To an elderly person, a seriously ill person, to someone alone or afraid we have the opportunity to be Christ’s presence, the Divine Physician, the Wounded Healer, as we anoint.  Sometimes the call leads us to assist someone on his or her journey back to God.  Always thank God for that privilege and pray that a priest may be at your side at the time of your death.

We also experience Christ’s intimacy when we baptize a child or adult, when we confirm at the Easter Vigil and other extraordinary times, when we witness a marriage and, especially when we are called to renew the grace of our own ordination as we see a deacon, priest or bishop ordained.

In conclusion, I read for you a few of the words by Blessed John Paul II to all priests on Holy Thursday, 1979:

. . . We must all be converted anew every day. We know that this is a fundamental exigency of the Gospel, addressed to everyone (cf. Mt 4:17; Mk 1: 15), and all the more do we have to consider it as addressed to us.  If we have the duty of helping others to be converted we have to do the same continuously in our own lives.  Being converted means returning to the very grace of our vocation; it means meditating upon the infinite goodness and love of Christ, who has addressed each of us and, calling us by name, has said: "Follow me". Being converted means continually "giving an account" before the Lord of our hearts about our service, our zeal and our fidelity, for we are "Christ's servants, stewards entrusted with the mysteries of God" (1 Cor 4:1).  Being converted also means "giving an account" of our negligences and sins, of our timidity, of our lack of faith and hope, of our thinking only "in a human way" and not "in a divine way".  Let us recall, in this regard, the warning that Christ gave to Peter himself (cf. Mt 16:23).  Being converted means, for us, seeking again the pardon and strength of God in the sacrament of Reconciliation, and thus always beginning anew, and every day progressing, overcoming ourselves, making spiritual conquests, giving cheerfully, for "God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor 9:7).

Being converted meant to pray continually and never lose heart" (Lk 18:1). In a certain way prayer is the first and the last condition for conversion, spiritual progress and holiness.

And so I have preached my homily and you have heard my particular story and learned about my calling.  You have had an opportunity to reflect with me on the gift of the ministerial priesthood.  Hopefully you have seen along the way the wonderful, mysterious way in which God works in my—in fact, all of our lives.

I am always in awe of how he has taken a shy, introverted boy from Wildwood—one who at one time thought it would be no problem being priest as long as he didn’t have to speak in public—and given him the opportunity to address the presbyterate of the Diocese of Camden for his Silver Jubilee.   I hope and pray that you continue to experience the love that Jesus Christ has for all of us, His priests, and for His people. 

My brothers, go forth and continue to tell your own stories.  Your people, God’s people, are anxiously waiting to hear them.

May Our Blessed Lady, Mother of the Great High Priest and Mother of all Priests, intercede for us.  Amen.

The People Who Shape Us

Over the years there have been a number of people as well as various experiences that helped shape who I am today.  Whether they are parents or grandparents, parish priests or religious sisters, teachers, friends, students or just random acquaintances, people in our lives leave impressions and can influence us tremendously.  Additionally, varying circumstances and events can leave a similar, lasting effect.

Let me tell you about some of the people and factors making me who I am and influencing the way I think.

Growing up as I child I served Mass as an altar boy from the time I was in about 3^rd grade all the way through high school.  This allowed me to observe and interact with many, many priests.  In addition to the resident parish priests, we had dozens of visiting priests helping at the parish annually, since I lived at a seashore resort—Wildwood, NJ.  Moreover, there were the priests who taught me in high school.  Briefly stated, priests were part of my life from its earliest days.

 

While I would like to say something about all of them, let me focus in on some of the now-deceased priests whom I knew personally.  It is fitting that I conclude with my patron saint—also a priest.

Msgr. Joseph Conlon was my pastor for my adolescent and teenage years.  He was nicknamed by some friends and admiring priests “Holy Joe.”  I knelt beside him many days praying the rosary, serving Stations of the Cross and Benediction and, of course, when he offered Mass.  To this day I recall how I sensed his deep love and reverence for the Holy Eucharist.  His eyes were fixated on the host and on the crucifix (sitting on the altar) whenever he celebrated Mass.  It was an experience I can only describe as truly mystical.

Fr. Peter Jones became my confessor and helped me through my seminary years.  His jovial spirit and sense of humor lifted me up time and time again.  His kindness and practical insight in the confessional personified for me Jesus’ love, compassion and forgiveness.  No wonder a number of priests from our diocese sought him out as a confessor!  He was slated to preach at my first Mass as a priest, but died suddenly the year prior—my diaconate year.

In my time as a deacon, Msgr. Edward Kennedy was the pastor in charge of me in Transfiguration Parish, West Collingswood.  Monsignor had spent part of his priesthood as a missionary in Brazil.  He took me under his wing and showed me the ropes of what it meant to be a parish priest.  I still remember what he told my superiors prior to my ordination:  “I think Eddie will make a good parish priest.  He is best suited for life as a parish priest.  I think that you should keep him in this ministry.”  Well, his advice lasted for about four years—until I began 20 years in high school work! 

Msgr. James McIntyre became the homilist for my first Mass after Fr. Jones’ death.  “Fr. Mac”—as we called him as kids—was our fun-loving parish priest.  He was a friend who showed me that the path to holiness often involved lifetime struggles and a need to adapt and change when necessary.  Eventually he became the one in charge of Priest Personnel (including me!) for the Diocese of Camden.  It was certainly nice to have a friend to look out for me as a newly-ordained priest.

In my East Vineland assignment at St. Mary’s Church I had the pleasure and honor to live with and to get to know two good, holy priests:  Fr. Paul Onufer and Fr. Julian Karczewski.  Fr. Onufer was a prayerful, soft-spoken, saintly priest whose infectious smile could warm and soften any person’s heart.  He had a great sense of humor, being something of a practical-joker at times.  I would usually find him at prayer in his room when I came home from school.  Very often he could be seen praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament—especially each morning before celebrating Mass.

Then there was Fr. Julian.  This truly-unique priest suffered two major handicaps during his lifetime—polio and deafness.  His childhood polio—initially crippling him—nearly kept him from pursuing the priesthood.  Through God’s grace and Julian's perseverance he was ordained a priest.  Later in his priesthood he went completely deaf for no apparent reason.  Fortunately he was aided by technology through a device called a cochlear implant.  He could once again hear and function in a relatively normal manner.  The end of his life found him needing care and professional attention in nursing facilities.  He taught me multiple lessons in perseverance, fidelity and long-suffering.  He let me see the suffering-Christ but not without a child-like sense of humor.  He, like so many other priests in my life, was a man of prayer.

In the college seminary, Msgr. John Foley (later Archbishop, then Cardinal Foley) taught me Metaphysics and Ethics.  He had to be the most ethical, honest person I have ever known.  We joked as students that the shortest distance between two points was John Foley.  He was as straight as an arrow.  Cardinal Foley was a holy, prayerful man noted for his intelligence, his self-discipline, his broadcast voice, and for meeting and/or knowing most of the famous people throughout the world. Despite his importance, he took the time to assist me in various personal matters, to correspond with me, and to take my mother and me out to dinner on our visit to Rome!

In my graduate studies at Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, MD, there were two especially influential priests:  Fr. Anthony Manocchio and Msgr. Richard McGuinness.  Fr. Manocchio was the seminary spiritual director as well as my personal spiritual director.  From him I learned so much about prayer—especially centering prayer—and a love for and a devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.  Fr. Manocchio was so serious about prayer.  He could be found praying entire nights before the Blessed Sacrament in chapel.  He was truly detached from material possessions and lived in humble simplicity.  When he died, he had already given almost everything he owned away.


Msgr. McGuinness, the Rector of the seminary, was a father-figure to me.  I sought him out and talked to him whenever I could—most notably after my ordination.  He always had a ear to listen and time for me.  Once, when I came to him as a young priest seeking his advice (after he had been reassigned from rector of the seminary to pastor of a parish in North Jersey) he handed me his rectory key.  He told me his rectory was open to me at any time.  Wow!  No one had ever done something like that for me before!  Monsignor died of pancreatic cancer.  He was the epitome of gentleness, hospitality and, of course, prayerfulness.


For over 20 years I shared a special relationship with two priests who were part of the Marriage Encounter community like me.  Msgr. Charles Barth and Msgr. William Poyatt would join with me and a few couples almost every other month to share a meal and a dialogue question.  “Skip” or Msgr. “Skip” Barth would tell people how “mean” and “miserable” he was when he was asked how he was doing.  This was so far from the truth!  He was kind and gentle with a happy, peaceful demeanor for as long as I knew him!  He was a true people-person who loved the outdoors—especially fishing—and telling jokes.  “Fr. Bill” Poyatt would never admit to being a monsignor.  In fact, he hated the title.  He was an introvert who enjoyed reading.  Like Msgr. Skip, Fr. Bill was totally interested in relationships—especially between married couples.  He had no time for small talk but would be genuinely concerned about what was happening in those relationships that mattered most in a person’s life.  Over much time, Skip, Bill and I shared with a few couples and some other priests on too many matters to list here.  Most importantly, we learned the importance of feelings and relationship as together we honored the sacraments of Matrimony and Holy Orders.

Until the time of his moving to New York State, Fr. Charles Fehrenback, C.Ss.R. (a Redemptorist priest) was my confessor.  He resided at St. Peter’s Church in Philadelphia—which is also the location of the Shrine of St. John Neumann.  This gentle, knowledgeable priest aided me through the early years of my priesthood as I sought his wisdom and pastoral experience.  I understood very quickly why so many priests and laity alike sought him out for confession and spiritual guidance!


At the time of my ordination St. Maximilian Kolbe appeared on my invitation and holy card as my patron saint.  I wanted people to know about this remarkable priest who gave his life for a married man with a family in the concentration camp at Auschwitz, Poland.  Books have been written about him, so suffice it to say that my life as a priest attempts to give service to God and neighbor in imitation of St. Maximilian’s selflessness and love.  A statement of his—only love is creative—has become my personal motto.


Now that you have met some of the deceased priests who influenced my life, you have a better insight into my life.  Please pray for them and all priests.  While some in the media may single out a priest (or priests) who goes horribly astray and project this on all priests, I thank God each day for those holy men in my life who humbly served the Lord without realizing how they made an indelible impression on at least one other person’s life—mine!  I am touched by their attempts and struggles to follow the Lord Jesus as His disciples—as his priests.

I am proud to be counted as their brother priest.

Fr. Ed Namiotka