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Year for Priests: Reflecting on vocation, ministry

Name: Father Edward Girres

Birth date including year: December 14, 1951

Hometown: West Bend, Iowa

Education: Grades 1-8, Sts. Peter and Paul, West Bend; Freshman year at Trinity Prep Seminary, Sioux City; Sophomore-Senior, St. John’s Prep, Collegeville, Minn.; college, B.A. St. John’s University, Collegeville, Minn.; Seminary 1975-1979, American College at the University of Louvain, Belgium (M.A. in Religious Studies); Certificates in Youth Ministry and Ministry Development (post M.A.)

Ordination date: July 21, 1979

Current assignment: Pastor, St. Cecelia, Algona, Iowa

Hobbies/interests: Music, the arts, outdoors

Describe your call to priesthood. Felt called to the priesthood from an early age, probably when first in grade school. Throughout my life my understanding of priesthood grew and changed and its appeal continued.

Did anyone or anything provide you with inspiration to follow the call to priesthood? The call always seemed to be there. My parents were most influential in my pursuing the vocation to the priesthood. They openly prayed that one of their children would be called to the priesthood or religious life. They made it clear that it was a worthy and wonderful vocation. They respected their pastor and the sisters serving in our parish and school. Church life was important to them. They made it clear to me that if it was my call, they would whole-heartedly support it, but if it was not, they would also accept whatever vocation I discerned God was calling me to.

Was it a difficult decision to make? It did not seem like a difficult decision. It was gradual and the idea was always with me. When I decided to go away for high school to a minor seminary it just seemed like what I ought to do if I was planning to be a priest. With every decision I made to continue the process of pursuing the priesthood, it always seemed to be what I ought to do and therefore not really difficult to decide. Living the decision always had/has its challenges.

What do you enjoy most about being a priest? There’s so much I enjoy. Celebrating the Sunday Mass is always a highpoint – being able to be with the whole community, worshiping God through Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps I would not describe some of my ministry experiences as enjoyable, but extremely rich, e.g. being with a family surrounding a loved one who is dying; or administering the Sacrament of the Anointing to the sick; witnessing the honest sorrow and repentance in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I really enjoy seeing people getting “turned on” to their faith through a retreat, Bible Study or some other formation activity of the parish or their own study and prayer.

Are there any particular devotions or prayers that are dear to your heart? I am particularly drawn to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and pray that my heart could just be a bit like his. His love and compassion is without measure. I like the psalms and therefore the Liturgy of the Hours and the parish’s celebration of Vespers.

Why do you find priesthood to be a worthy vocation? We share in the priesthood of Christ with all the baptized and as ordained, with the priesthood of Christ as head, shepherd and pastor. The worthiness of the priesthood comes from Christ and our ability to receive his gift of humility, emptying ourselves and getting down our knees and washing the feet of those we serve.

What would you say to a young man considering a vocation to the priesthood? If it is meant for you, there is no richer life. The experience of God’s presence and work in the world is so apparent through carrying out the vocation of the priesthood.