A Priest of Mercy

Ever since retiring from active ministry and moving back to Bulwell in September last year, Fr Anthony Dolan has made his presence felt in the community. He would often concelebrate Mass whenever he could. During his first few months, I haven't heard him deliver the homily.  A few friends of mine told me that he actually did during Christmas Morning Mass. Too bad, I attended the Vigil Mass. It took a few weeks later - the feast of the Lord's Baptism to be exact - when I heard him preach to the congregation. 

His homily during that celebration focused on Jesus as the Lord's Servant. Being the Servant, Christ manifested in His life the Father's Mercy. Indeed, as Pope Francis once wrote, "Jesus is the face of the Father's mercy."

Since then, I had the chance to attend a few Sunday Masses with Fr Anthony presiding and preaching.  And in all of these instances, he would always remind people of God's mercy and of how we should celebrate the Year of Mercy.  In one of those Masses, he recommended that we assign a holy door of Mercy in our own homes. He suggested that it would be the door where we could pray as we enter and as we leave. He even gave as an example the main door of his house as his own holy door of Mercy. 

There was one instance when Fr Anthony didn't preach, but only read the Bishop's Pastoral Letter in observance of Safeguarding Sunday (24 April 2016).  What caught my attention in that Letter was the Bishop's story of "Maria" (not her real name) who was a victim of human trafficking in our own diocese.  Furthermore, I noticed Fr Anthony so much affected by such an incident that he invited us to spend some time in prayer after Mass for "Maria" and other victims of human trafficking. He told us that he too would stay for a few minutes in church to pray. Listening to him speak, I felt as though he was almost in tears.

At a time and age when mercy seems to be archaic, when we give more emphasis on "Me, mine, and myself", when we seek more independence from rather than trust in God, when our battle cry would often be "Justice!" (as though justice and mercy are completely divorced from each other),  Fr Anthony's emphasis on God's mercy comes as a wake up call. 

I think there are three things that we could learn from Fr Anthony if we wish to "Be merciful just as our heavenly Father is merciful". First, remember. During the Mass, Fr Anthony and his brother priests across the world would quote Jesus' words "Do this in memory of me". It's to our best interest to remember how merciful God is to us otherwise we won't be able accept the invite to be merciful like Him. By remembering, comes being rooted. As a priest, Fr Anthony has shown how it is to be rooted in God. As a son of Bulwell, he has shown how rooted he is in the parish which, like a mother, nurtured him in the faith.

Second, devotion to Our Lady. One thing noticeable about Fr Anthony is that he would kneel in front of the image of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour for a few minutes before proceeding to the sacristy to get himself ready for Mass. Next to Jesus, Mary stands out as our model of how it is to be open to God's mercy and to share that mercy to others. Apart from that, Mary is a good teacher on how we should treasure in our hearts the great things that the Lord has done for us.

Third, action.  As we were leaving the Poor Clare Monastery Chapel, after the Taize prayer service held in June, Fr Anthony quipped "We have been praying all the time!". I took as though Fr Anthony was telling me, "Now that you've prayed, it's time to put that fully charged heart, mind, and soul of yours to work and bear fruit."

Happy 50th sacerdotal ordination anniversary, Fr Anthony, this coming Saturday (23 July 2016)! Thank you for your inspiring words and faithful service.  Keep on proclaiming the Lord's mercy to all! God bless you always.