Homily of the First Mass of Father Alennis. December 6, 2023.

Your Eminence, dear sisters and brothers, dear Father Alennis:

In the homily of your first mass, allow me to leave you just some notes about being a priest in Cuba, today.

Remember that you are a man (therefore limited and fragile) in relationship. So do not be afraid to bring your fragility and your limitation before Our Lord, The Master: the same one who called Simon and Andrew, and then James and John, near the lake. And when you go up to the Altar, remember that you are limited and fragile like them.

If you speak to your people, speak to them about the strength and love of God, do not speak to them as if you were God.

¿Why? Because you are a means – immediate and daily instrument of the saving grace of Christ – and you are not an end.

You will have power, but never forget that it is a power to serve. Therefore, your service and your power must be premised on: listening (to God and people) and learning (from God and people).

Don’t be an elite priest. Be a cure for everyone. People easily perceive when you belong to some and not to others.

Don’t be afraid to get tired doing good. The best rest is the one that comes as a result of long work for others.

Be a brother to your brothers. Don’t make priestly ghettos! You will end up making parish ghettos.

Understand that you are going to serve a people with old and new wounds. Your mission will always be to heal, not to sociology the people’s pain.

The bishop is not a school monitor, he is not a watchman, he is a father, and he must provide that closeness. If he doesn’t, you take the first step. Don’t expect him to give you your closeness.

Be a man of bridges, not walls. Therefore, be a man capable of generating unity and not division. We have enough of divisions!

Priestly maturity is achieved, I clarify, when God becomes the protagonist of our life. Then everything changes perspective, even the disappointments and bitterness, because it is no longer about improving by composing something, but about surrendering ourselves without holding back anything, to the One who has impregnated us with his anointing and wants to reach the deepest part of us. Jesus Christ invites you to follow him, and when the loneliness of this world arrives (which will come), remember that He fills our spaces and heals all our wounds.

Allow me a story I once read.

Onceupon a time therewasa recentlyordainedpriest whoarrived, backinthe seventies, to his first pastoral assignment, to exercise the ministry asParishPriestofa smalltownin his diocese. He tookthe train with great enthusiasmand enthusiasm. During the trip he was making plans and imagining the great reception thatwould be given in the town for the arrival of the new priest. Happy, he looked out the window at the placesthroughwhich he had to take Christ. Hearrived at the station and instead of a band, applause, expectations and a treat, he found a man of about seventy years old,serenely smiling. He got offthe train on the lonely platform and approached theonly one who appreciated his arrival. “Don’t lookfrom one side to the other anymore,” said the knight. OnlyIam. Everyone hasmore important thingsto do. But, Mr. So-and-so, don’t get used to it.” He brought him closer to the church. A neglected,simple andsmall temple. He enteredand saw that everything was abandoned and sad. The companionlooked at him and repeated, placing his eyes on a tabernacle flanked by half a dozen plasticroses: “Dr. So-and-so, don’t get used to it.” He reviewedthe parish books and discovered the little sacramental activity of the parish and, again, the chant of the one who was going to be his right hand and his support in the work: “D. So-and-so, don’t get used to it.” He wentout for a walk and indifference was the queen of that place. He lookedat Don So-and-so to the faithful parishioners and said to himself: “So-and-so, don’t get used to it.” Never get used to being a priest, Alennis, because monotony in custom kills apostolic ardor and fruitful work.

Never forget that the best thing that has happened to you in life is not being a priest but being baptized. Hence the most important thing is to be a son, and by being a son you are equal to your brothers.

Always look at María de la Caridad del Cobre. She will always be
and she will say to you, “Do whatever He tells you.” ANIMO…

Amen

 

+Monsignor Eloy