Priesthood brings the privilege of entering people’s lives at their most important moments. But moving from someone’s deepest grief to another's greatest joy can also take a toll.

Speaking with Tim Glemkowski, Fr. Alex McCullough reflected on the cumulative weight of years in parish ministry. He has celebrated more than 100 weddings and 300 baptisms, while also accompanying families through funerals and profound suffering.

Sometimes those moments come almost back-to-back. A priest may walk with a grieving family and, shortly afterward, celebrate a joyful wedding or offer Mass.

Over time, he explained, there may not always be enough opportunity to process those experiences with the Lord. His hope for a sabbatical is to learn “how to have a more manageable life that does allow me to process these things with the Lord rather than just carry them with me all the time.”

He also shared advice from a fellow priest after one particularly brutal pastoral experience. The answer was simple: “There’s nothing to do in that situation but give it to Jesus.”

That can mean returning to the Lord at the end of a long day and placing what happened before Him: “Lord, I have no idea what to do with this.”

It’s a powerful glimpse into the hidden sacrifices priests make while serving God’s people. Their vocation cannot be carried by human strength alone. As this priest put it, there is no way to live it without “complete and total trust and reliance on powers that are well beyond anything you could ever muster yourself.”

The best way to catch Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.

Priesthood brings the privilege of entering people&rsquo;s lives at their most important moments. But moving from someone&rsquo;s deepest grief to another's greatest joy can also take a toll.
Speaking with Tim Glemkowski, Fr. Alex McCullough reflected on the cumulative weight of years in parish ministry. He has celebrated more than 100 weddings and 300 baptisms, while also accompanying families through funerals and profound suffering.
Sometimes those moments come almost back-to-back. A priest may walk with a grieving family and, shortly afterward, celebrate a joyful wedding or offer Mass.
Over time, he explained, there may not always be enough opportunity to process those experiences with the Lord. His hope for a sabbatical is to learn &ldquo;how to have a more manageable life that does allow me to process these things with the Lord rather than just carry them with me all the time.&rdquo;
He also shared advice from a fellow priest after one particularly brutal pastoral experience. The answer was simple: &ldquo;There&rsquo;s nothing to do in that situation but give it to Jesus.&rdquo;
That can mean returning to the Lord at the end of a long day and placing what happened before Him: &ldquo;Lord, I have no idea what to do with this.&rdquo;
It&rsquo;s a powerful glimpse into the hidden sacrifices priests make while serving God&rsquo;s people. Their vocation cannot be carried by human strength alone. As this priest put it, there is no way to live it without &ldquo;complete and total trust and reliance on powers that are well beyond anything you could ever muster yourself.&rdquo;
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The best way to catch&nbsp;Best of the Week&nbsp;is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It&rsquo;s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out&nbsp;<a href="https://relevantradio.com/listen/get-the-app/">here</a>.

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Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.