- by Fr Michael de Stoop (Fr Michael was ordained a priest on 8 June 2001)

My first appointment as an Assistant Priest is at All Saints' Parish, Liverpool. I am here with two other priests: the Parish Priest, Fr Philip Linder, and Fr Gregory McGregor. My ministry here as a priest has been very rewarding as there is never a dull moment in this busy parish. From what I have seen here, the faith is strong, with a high number of people attending the sacraments. It has been encouraging to see many people coming to Mass and Reconciliation, many of them young people. There are almost three thousand of people who come to our five Masses on the weekend. On a Saturday, I can often spend two to three hours hearing confessions.

Since there are many young families in Liverpool much of my ministry involves "match'n', hatch'n' and dispatch'n' 'em." That is, weddings, baptisms and funerals. I enjoy preparing couples for the sacrament of marriage because I think it is a sacrament that is deep in meaning and beautiful when it is lived out fruitfully. To be asked to assist people in significant moments of their lives brings me much fulfilment. Not just their joys, but even their sorrows because it is a beautiful thing to able to help people to come to appreciate what I appreciate most: our Catholic Faith. Life is meaningless for me without it. And so to help people to grow in faith in all areas of their lives brings me great "job satisfaction." There would be something wrong with me if it didn't for that is indeed the priest's "job description"!

Of all the parts of my ministry the two sacraments that are most touching are the Eucharist and Reconciliation. For both of these sacraments bring about a close encounter with the presence and love of Christ.

It is humbling beyond all description to celebrate the Mass as a priest for a number of reasons. And these reasons are all centred upon the marvellous things I am conscious that Christ wishes to do through me: to be present to his people through me; to lead people in prayer where many benefits are bestowed; to proclaim his Gospel and to make it relevant to peoples' lives so as to help people to believe in it and live it; to use my hands to unite the Church's sacrifice to his, to call upon the Holy Spirit, to re-present His Death and Resurrection on the altar that brings us countless benefits, and to hold his Body and Blood in my own hands. It's humbler yet to consider that Mary, the mother of Jesus was called by God to bring Christ's human body into the world once, whereas, as a priest, I am called to bring Christ truly present in the Eucharist every day.

The sacrament of Reconciliation is also a very moving sacrament, for in it, I am conscious that Christ wishes to be present through me to offer his forgiveness to those who seek it. My experience of this sacrament is a very moving one precisely because I have always found it touching as a penitent. Now as a priest, it is a very humbling thing to be called upon to represent Christ to fulfil such a deep-seated need in all of us: God's love and forgiveness.

Whenever I have been asked things like: "Have you ever had any regrets?" Or, "What is it that keeps you going?" I respond by saying: "You can't get distracted if you're attracted!" I am moved by the nature of this attraction, as depicted in the insightful words of St John of the Cross:

"If your desire for God is so great,
then imagine what God's desire for you is like
in order for you to desire him."

And that's the awesome thing about the Priesthood. The Priesthood exists because Christ wishes to identify himself with humanity. And when his desire to associate himself with humanity is felt by certain individuals like myself. words can't express the awesome things that stir within me: that Christ wishes to identify himself with me personally only ever increases my desire to identify myself with him.

This desire in turn deeply inspires the way in which I go about participating in Christ's ministerial Priesthood. For how could I want to exclusively associate myself with Christ without wanting to associate myself with his ministry? It's a joy to contemplate this, for just as Christ was both Priest and Victim, there are many opportunities in my ministry for sacrifice and service: Just as Christ related himself with the holiness of God the Father by interceding for the needs of those he encountered as a Priest, and just as Christ related himself with sinful humanity by offering his life in sacrifice as a Victim, I am called to do the same as I go about participating in his ministry.

Even before I became a priest, prayer has always been a joy for me because I have often appreciated this gift as a great means of coming closer to God. Now, as a priest, my life of prayer is evermore a great joy because it is a way of associating myself with Christ by participating in his Priesthood, thereby joining him in his prayer to the Father. Likewise, even before I was ordained, I have often appreciated the place of sacrifice in our lives as Christians. But now as a priest, there are even more joys in making sacrifices because these are ways I can associate myself with Christ by participating in his Victimhood, thereby joining him in his triumph over sin in the world.