The Henri Nouwen Servant-Leadership
The first time that I've got a copy of the booklet, "In the Name of Jesus" by Fr Henri JM Nouwen was when I was still a Philosophy student in a College Seminary. That was 1992. It was given to me as a gift by an Anglican missionary who belonged to a branch that was in communion - I believed - with the Catholic Church since he was allowed to receive Holy Communion when he visits our seminary and joins us in the celebration of the Holy Mass. He was even allowed to conduct recollections with us.
Well, the booklet was by a Catholic Priest so I thought I don't have to worry about accepting it. "In the Name of Jesus" actually inspired me to pursue the priesthood if only I was called. But as we always tell those people to whom we conduct vocation campaigns, the priesthood is a call from God and unlike becoming a doctor, a lawyer or anything else, one may have the intellectual capacity or the finances to sustain the academic side of the priesthood but without that important ingredient of being called, one cannot argue with those in-charge of one's formation if they see you unfit for the Orders as per the signs and other things.
Priest or not, I guess this contribution of Fr Nouwen to the understanding of how Christians should conduct the ministry this very century is very significant especially with a new Pope who manifests the simplicity, humility and care that the book suggests that a Christian minister should be these days. It is very Bible-based and filled with the fruit of the priests's own experience so it is a great source of inspiration, motivation and foundation for a fruitful expression of loving one another and washing each other's feet!
- Admin Lance
The Temptation: To be Relevant
The Question: "Do you love me?"
The Discipline: Contemplative Prayer
II. From Popularity to Ministry
The Temptation: To be Spectacular
The Task: "Feed My Sheep"
The Discipline: Confession and Forgiveness
III. From Leading to Being Led
The Temptation: To be Powerful
The Challenge: "Somebody Else will Take You!"
The Discipline: Theological Reflection
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