I am a Canon, but call me Father!

Reflecting on today’s Gospel where Jesus is warning against being called Rabbi, Father or Teacher, I was thinking about the titles I have.

Some years ago I was asked by Archbishop Kevin to become a Chapter Canon. There are twelve Canons in the Southwark Chapter and we meet meet twice a year: on the feast of St George (23rd April) and on the anniversary of the consecration of our Cathedral of Saint George at Southwark (7th November). According to the Statutes of the Chapter, the Archbishop entrusts the Chapter to initiate projects of pastoral importance, to advise him on matters which may prove delicate or contentious, and to be a forum at which any matters of importance to the mission of the Church in Southwark can be discussed confidentially. In addition, our Diocesan Chapter of Canons are also now the College of Consultors. According to Canon Law, the college of consultors assists the Archbishop in the governance of the Diocese in accord with the provisions of Church law.

So from being called “Father”, after I was ordained priest, I have now been given another title — “Canon”.

I feel uneasy whenever people call me “Canon”. It is much more formal than Father. It describes a relationship I have with the Bishop and the Diocese. I am much happier being called “Father” because it expresses a spiritual and personal relationship between myself and the people I serve. Just as a human father must nourish, instruct, challenge, correct, forgive, listen and sustain — so, as a priest, I have a responsibility to respond to the spiritual needs of those entrusted to my care. I need to provide nourishment through the celebration of the sacraments. I am called to preach with fervour and conviction, and provide reconciliation and healing through the sacraments.

At my induction as parish priest of Hersden a couple of weeks ago, Bishop Paul reminded me that it was my duty to serve the people in such a way that they become true followers and disciples of the Lord Jesus, by loving and serving God, their Heavenly Father, and all his people. I find this daunting sometimes. I have to remind myself that it is Jesus who has called me to holiness as a priest. If he wanted me to be his priest, then he gives me all I need to grow in intimacy with Jesus, and to be a servant of his word and be formed by the word.

Pope Francis says that this intimacy come from prayer, the spiritual life, concrete closeness to God through listening to his word, the celebration of the Eucharist, the silence of adoration, entrustment to Mary, the wise accompaniment of a guide and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Pope Francis went on to say, ‘Without these forms of closeness, a priest is merely a weary hireling who has none of the benefits of the Lord’s friends.’

Pope Francis emphasised that people were looking for ‘shepherds in the style of Jesus,’ not ‘clerical functionaries’ or ‘professionals of the sacred.’ People needs us priests to be ‘men of courage, ready to draw near to those in pain and lend a helping hand,’ he said. ‘Contemplative men, whose closeness to people enables them to proclaim before the wounds of our world the power of the Resurrection, even now at work.’

I am a Canon, but call me Father!