Time management for priests
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III speaks about the importance of a priest’s time management between liturgical service, public service, and personal and family time, and how this balance becomes a source of blessing for his spiritual work.
Readings and prayers
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that the priest’s spiritual reading is divided into two parts: reading for personal contemplation and spiritual life, and reading for study and sermon preparation. The lecture stresses that reading is not only for obtaining information but also for spiritual nourishment. He also emphasizes the necessity of private and family prayers that are not limited to the public rites during the Divine Liturgy.
Pastoral service and visits
He advises regularly using the free morning times to visit the sick, check on grieving families, attend funerals, and support families in cases of illness and need, considering the privacy of each situation.
Liturgical services outside the church
He explains the importance of the sacrament of the anointing of the sick and blessing new homes, and directs the manner of sprinkling the blessed water (sprinkle on walls in living areas and not on the floor or in bathrooms and kitchens) so that it is effective and respectful.
Dealing with emergencies and priorities
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III points out that emergencies and special services are not a constant state, and the priest must balance meeting people’s needs and maintaining his time organization, with flexibility to respond to urgent cases without sacrificing essential duties.
Family life and pastoral confidentiality
He clarifies that the priest must allocate time for his family and be just between them and his service, because neglecting the family causes spiritual and social problems; he also affirms the necessity of keeping confessions confidential and not giving the wife the opportunity to hear people’s private secrets.
Blessing and fruits
He concludes that organizing time and being faithful before God makes his time fruitful and brings a more effective blessing and service, and that experience in ministry increases the priest’s ability to set priorities and perform his duties efficiently.
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