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I had a great few hours yesterday with a golden group – older Catholics of the diocese of Christchurch.

The theme was that of the Jubilee year, and I shared a few reflections on life as a Pilgrim of Hope.

But as I drove home mid-afternoon I was filled with gratitude for the family of my home diocese, and for life these past few decades as a Diocesan Priest, following a vocation and a commitment to spend my life with the people of Canterbury, Westland and Chatham Islands.

After spending my teen years in South Canterbury I have served in every part of the diocese, Christchurch, North Canterbury, Westland and Chatham Islands.

And yesterday as I looked around the group I noticed that there were people present who I had met 50 years ago (before ordination) in Timaru, as a young priest in Greymouth, later in Christchurch, back to Westland (Ngahere) then Christchurch again and North Canterbury and Chatham Islands.

Perhaps that is the best-kept secret of Diocesan Priesthood.

A priest of a religious community will over the course his life as a Marist, Dominican, Jesuit or Franciscan will serve across the large province of several countries, or further afield.

A DIocesan Priest belongs to the family of a diocese where people will get to know him well, his strengths and weaknesses, and stories of his successes and failings will (as in a family) be well known.

Many people are very forgiving.

It’s a great life!