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Home  / News & Publications /  Michigan Catholic News / 2009 /  Honoring Priesthood Sunday

by Jared Field of The Michigan Catholic
Published October 23, 2009

Field | The Michigan Catholic Fr.Christopher Talbot, 43, is the pastor of St. Francis-St. Maximilian parish in Ray Twp. in Macomb County. He says the life of a priest in 2009 is busier than ever.

Editor's note: This year, Priesthood Sunday is celebrated on Oct. 25. We honor our priests and thank them for their lives of service.

Ray Twp. - It's nearly 70 square miles, a sprawling panorama of farm fields and picket fences in a not-quite-yet suburbanized portion of northern Macomb County.

It's his turf, all of it.

"It's me, but there's myself and I that help out on occasion, also," joked Fr. Christopher Talbot, pastor of St. Francis-St. Maximilian, a parish of 1,200 families in Ray Township. "There's a busyness here."

That "busyness," says Fr. Talbot, is the state of the diocesan priesthood in 2009.

"The call to the diocesan priesthood is an active ministry," he says. "With the decreased number of priests, it's a much more busy life than it was even 20 years ago, and certainly 50 years ago when you had five or six priests at every parish ... so the demands of the ministry were divided."

Fr. Talbot represents, in many ways, the modern priesthood. He entered Sacred Heart Major Seminary in 1998 as most of his classmates did - in his 30s.

And right on time.

Fr. Talbot was born in Madison Heights, where his family attended St. Vincent Ferrer Parish. He graduated from University of Detroit Jesuit High School and the University of Michigan before spending more than a decade in the business world. He credits his experience as a retail manager and proprietor of a sandwich shop in Roseville with his insight into the lives of the laity - regular folks he says are on the "front lines" of ministry.

"I think it allows me to be more understanding of people's situations," he said. "If you were in the seminary from 8th grade on to ordination, really the only life you know is that of a priest, whereas I've had experience of life out in the world ... having been able to live that, I know the challenges, the ups and downs. I've found that very helpful to be a support for people who are living their faith in their daily lives with work, family and children ... and all of the other things we're called to do.

"Living that for 10 years before I was ordained, I'm able to, I think, be more responsive to people who are trying to do that in their own lives."

It wasn't an epiphany that convinced Fr. Talbot of his calling, but a community of faith that led to a personal revival.

"It was through my participation in the Cursillo movement here in the archdiocese that I reawakened to my faith journey," Fr. Talbot said of the movement of small groups aimed at enabling essential realities of faith to be enlightened by the unique nature of the individual. "It was through that continual sharing that I opened up to a more radical call of service.

"It wasn't a flipped switch ... that was not me. (My calling) was in relationship with this faith-sharing group, and I got the sense that I wasn't using all the gifts that God had given me to their full potential."

These days, Fr. Talbot is the shepherd of a loyal flock, one that is steadily growing into a vibrant Christian community.

"(Fr. Talbot) is really working to make things happen and to make things better," says Jim VanVelle, of Sterling Heights. "He has a very easygoing manner about him. Nothing seems to ruffle his feathers. He's high energy; he likes actually getting involved and taking a part in everything. He doesn't mind getting his hands dirty."

Kathy Burk had been the office secretary for three years before Fr. Talbot took over two years ago.

"People really like his style; he's easygoing and he listens to everybody," Burk says. "He's so nice and caring. He'll go out of his way to care for you."

Burk contends that too few really understand the travails of the priesthood, and how much time is needed to do it right.

"It's not a nine-to-five job," she says.

Bob Landino, a longtime member from Macomb Township, agrees.

"Priests aren't only proclaiming Christ's word, the word of God, but they also have a business to run," he said.

Even still, Fr. Talbot says a life of service isn't deprived of delight.

"It's a life not just of giving, but also of receiving," he says. "(Priests) receive in community, in relationships with those who are placed in our care. So I find myself growing in my faith because I've been placed here in a wonderful community.

"Although there have been days that have been challenging, there has always been this inner sense of peace and fulfillment that this is where God wants me to be."