The priest no longer enjoys the kind of prestige he once did, but “that’s not a bad thing”. So said Fr Henry Charles in his homily at the Mass marking Fr Emmanuel Pierre’s 25th anniversary of priestly ordination on Wednesday, June 21. Social standing, which might have been perceived as a blessing could also make “a travesty of the priesthood”, he warned.

In 25 years, changes have taken place in the world, culture, priesthood and “the context for the priesthood” which have resulted in “a certain loss, a diminishment in the social status of the priesthood”, said Fr Charles.

A full church came to celebrate Fr Mannie’s Silver Jubilee, to express their support and love. Looking out on the congregation gathered at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Harris Promenade, San Fernando - which included his mother Theodrine and his sisters Pearl and Ann Marie - he said, “I am deeply moved.”

Fr Mannie had spent some nine years at the Promenade as parish priest and another four and a half years in the neighbouring parish of Princes Town. For him, he said, it was like “being back home”. He added, “I can recognise every face sitting in the congregation ...You have been all part of my life.”

More than 20 priests, including Archbishop Edward Gilbert, who was celebrating his 42nd anniversary of ordination, and Fr Urban Hudlin OP celebrating his 15th, gathered in the sanctuary to celebrate the special occasion with Fr Mannie. Assisting him at the altar were two former Seminary rectors, Fr Michel de Verteuil CSSp and Fr Charles.

“One (Fr Michel) saw me in and the other saw me out,” remarked Fr Mannie.

Fr Emmanuel Pierre (third from left) with altar servers and Frs Henry Charles and Michel de Verteuil. Photo: Fr Vincent Pazhukkakulam O Carm

Fr Charles, who had preached at the Masses marking Fr Mannie’s first, fifteenth and twentieth anniversaries, called the people gathered to recognise the significance of an anniversary.

It was “a time to review how one has travelled”, he said, noting that it was “Mannie alone who can review the inner meaning” of the years he has travelled, which did not start with his ordination.

“It is a time of giving thanks and asking God’s pardon,” added Fr Charles.

In the past, the priest was regarded as an institutional figure whose words commanded attention. Today, he said, the priest was “regarded as someone who has nothing to say”.

The world tells the priest “account for your significance, account for your life. But the irony is that all the challenges that society faces today are spiritual. Society wants spirituality. There is a desire for the transcendent”.

What the priest is, what he does is what gives him true status, Fr Charles said. “There is a fundamental difference between being called and being chosen. A vocation is something tested and validated in ordination. It is not election, not ordinariness nor elitism.”

Fr Charles asked: “What does it mean to be a chosen instrument?” It is, he said, first of all a gift of God. “Gifts of God are there for all who want them; it is a matter of desire.”

The second requirement, said Fr Charles, was “ongoing conversion”. He noted that during the Rite of Ordination, the bishop says to the man kneeling before him: “Know what you are doing and imitate the mystery you celebrate.” To be that instrument of God required “ongoing conversion”, he said.

“No priest is ever the mystery he celebrates. Yet the priest must have confidence that what he seeks is attainable. The goal of ordination is election, to be a chosen instrument. Whether one is a priest for one year or 25 years, he has a long way to go.”