So that our readers might get to know us better and on a more personal level, we have been asking different members of the Congregation to share with you some thoughts about their own vocation, the Servant ministry, and how they experience God's grace at work in their day-to-day lives. The series continues this month with an article by Fr. Gregory McCormick, s.P. Presently Fr. Gregory is Father Servant for our community in Jemez Springs, NM and Director of our Villa Louis Martin Program.

As so often happens in life, my vocation to the Servants and this ministry to Priests and Brothers evolved over a period of years and through a series of events where God’s grace was at work. In retrospect, I believe that God’s persistent Wisdom ,Goodness and Love have helped me far more than any plans of my own.

In the beginning, I never really intended to become a Priest or become a member of a Religious Order. Oh, maybe sometime in the eighth grade at St. Chris’s School in Rocky River, Ohio, I might have raised my hand along with many other boys when Sister asked for a show of hands from those who wanted to become a Priest when we grew up. I never thought much about it after that.

Upon graduation from Rocky River High, I still didn’t know what I wanted to do. For lack of a better or more pressing plan I took the entrance exams at John Carroll University. The thought of being a chemist or an architect floated around in my head.

The kind interest and concern shown by a priest counselor at the JCU set me on a different path. Eventually, I began classic studies and became interested in studying to become a Priest for the Cleveland Diocese. At this time I met a wonderful man , Fr. Urban Gerhart. Fr. Urban was a great communicator and fine Spiritual Director who supported and guided many seminarians and Priests in their vocations.

Eventually, I transferred to the seminary for the Diocese of Galveston, Texas. For a Rocky River, Ohio boy, this seemed like going to an island at the end of the earth. I was ordained a Priest on December 17, 1949. I served as a Priest in Galveston’s parishes and grew in appreciation and love of my vocation as a gift from God.

Fr Urban and I kept in touch and in 1958 I visited him in Jemez Springs, New Mexico where he was working with Fr. Gerald and his newly founded congregation ministering to Priests and Brothers. I saw what was being done to help brother Priests and eventually joined the Congregation, taking final vows in September of 1967.

I am grateful to have joined the congregation at a time when our founder, Fr. Gerald Fitzgerald was still living. Fr. Gerald was one of a kind. Determined. Steel willed. And a heart full of compassion.

I remember one situation in particular. It involved an alcoholic Priest who after months of sobriety succumbed to drink one night. Fr. Gerald was very angry and invited me to be in his office the next morning when he was to meet with the Priest so I could learn how to "handle this kind of situation". Knowing Fr, Gerald’s anger over the situation, I sat there, expecting some kind of fireworks and only hoping that I could learn to be just as tough.

The Priest came in. Before Fr. Gerald could open his mouth, the Priest expressed his responsibility, shame and sorrow over the situation. Much to my surprise, the anticipated fireworks never happened. Fr. Gerald was firm and resolute yet compassionate in the acceptance of this man’s apology. While at the time I felt I had missed a lesson in toughness, in time I felt I had learned another lesson instead.

Gerald had no tolerance for sin yet he loved the sinner. At times he could become extremely angry - especially when the sacredness of the Sacraments and Priesthood were concerned.

He was a generous man. So much so that one wondered about ever giving him a birthday or Christmas gift. The blue and red striped sweater given to him one day was apt to be seen on a Priest in need walking down the corridor the following day. "Do you want them?", was his response to a compliment I made one day regarding a nice pair of cuff-links he was wearing.

There are many images in the scriptures which speak to me of God. In fact, those who know me (and maybe some who wish they didn’t know me) are aware of my tendency to use puns and tell stories using images from anywhere and everywhere which lead to God. One image I want to use here is the image of the pearl.

Reflecting on the pearl will tell you a lot about how I see God’s love in our lives. I see the mystery of redemption when I think of a pearl.

A pearl begins forming inside the oyster when a grain of sand or some other foreign irritant enters in. Rather than destroy or eliminate the irritant, somehow the oyster accepts or incorporates the undesirable element and creates a thing of beauty.

And so it is with us. In accepting our humanness, including our weakness, failure and imperfection, we can offer all to God. And God so loves us. And remaining in God’s Love, like the pearl, we become treasures not in spite of our irritations, imperfections and weaknesses but because of them. God incorporates and accepts us fully into His love and through that love, a thing of beauty is created - the pearl of great price!

Over my 52 years of priesthood and forty plus years as a Servant of the Paraclete, I have become convinced of God’s overwhelming generosity toward us. What a miracle that we humans even exist! What a miracle of generosity that any of us can see, touch, taste, smell, or hear. I am a sports fan and one of the sports terms in frequent use at tournament time is "The Final Four", referring to the teams remaining in playoff. Well, for me, when all is said and done, no matter what, I hope that the Final Four in all our lives will be "Thanks Be To God!"

In gratitude to all our friends and benefactors,

Fr. Gregory McCormick, s.P.