Twice a year, Cy stands before the congregation and talks about the parish dinner. Cy is the right man for the job. He takes his responsibility seriously. He knows how much our parish depends upon successful sausage dinners. And he impresses that message upon us.
Today, after Cy said a few words and returned to his seat, my husband leaned over to me and said, "In the business world, when we have someone in a key position, we plan for that person's replacement. It's called Succession Planning. We look around, while there is time, and begin to consider (and groom) a replacement."
Then, my husband nodded toward Cy. "He's good at this. Somebody needs to think about who might take his place. Somebody needs to be groomed and made ready."
If secular business recognizes the necessity for Succession Planning, how much must Our Lord work to prepare those who will take the place of our bishops and holy father when they pass into eternity? From the beginning, the Church has been blessed with Divinely Inspired Succession Planning. We call it Apostolic Succession. God always raises up successors. He never leaves us without key shepherds to lead His Church.
In this Year For Priests, it is good to remember that today's seminarians are being groomed. God is actively engaged in Succession Planning. Some will lead parishes. Some will lead ministries and lay organizations. Some will go to other countries to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And some will be lifted up and named a bishop or a pope.
Apostolic Succession is real. The Holy Trinity coined the phrase. It works so well, businesses follows this model.
Pray that the Lord of the Harvest will send more workers into the fields. And to those who answered the call, Blessed Year For Priests. We are so very thankful that you answered the Call.
