Living the consecrated life

MINISTERIAL JOURNEY: Unveiling the Joys and the Challenges of Priestly/Religious Life Today. By Fr Innocent Mabheka SCJ. Published by the Bombay Saint Paul Society, Mumbai, 2011. 93pp.

Reviewed by Michael Shackleton

In four brief chapters, Fr Innocent Mabheka undertakes a serious reflection on the difficulties young priests experience in the first phase of their priestly or religious ministry.

A well trained theologian, Fr Mabheka examines this methodically and sets it out clearly. He understands that a young priest or religious often begins the ministerial life with a sense of self-importance, desiring to show one and all of his or her personal talents and abilities. This can develop into expressing itself in pastoral or similar work, possibly wanting praise for one’s efforts.

Important though it is to care for oneself and for others, Fr Mabheka points to a stage in which one transcends these and finds “godly realisation”. Here, one surrenders one’s ministry to God and becomes God’s instrument. There is no self-dependence because this yields to surrendering oneself to divine love, strength and grace.

Quoting pointedly from the New Testament and spiritual writers, the book’s theme is systematically unfurled with many case studies to illustrate how the priest or religious, aspiring to be good and holy, can find obstacles and challenges that are almost unbearable. These are treated sympathetically and positively.

Despite the negative publicity surrounding the priesthood and religious life today, Fr Mabheka adopts a positive and optimistic stance with total confidence in God’s grace and support.

Concise and attractive, his little book should give a boost to those in the ministry who need to experience more joy and effectiveness in their work.