New priest goes through first year

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
January 15, 2004

LE MARS CLUSTER - A newly ordained priest experiences his first year as a priest in the Diocese of Sioux City.

Father William McCarthy, a native of Hawarden, was ordained to the priesthood on May 31, 2003. He is currently serving the Le Mars Area Cluster. He serves as administrator at St. Joseph Church in Struble and says Masses at St. Joseph Church in Ellendale, St. Joseph and St. James in Le Mars and Assumption Church in Merrill.

"Part of my unique assignment is that I am at four parishes throughout the week," said Father McCarthy. "My assignment has allowed me to meet a lot of faith-filled people across Plymouth County. They have shown me their great diversity. They take their faith and hold it so deeply. I have been really impressed with the people of Plymouth County. They are great Catholics."

Father McCarthy commented that it has been a change from an intellectual, academic environment to an environment where he is always encountering people with various needs.

"It's challenging and demanding to meet those needs, but it's at the same time the most fulfilling because you are able to be God's vessel to them through celebrating the sacraments, talking within counseling with them or helping them out in the little ways," said Father McCarthy. "You are able to bring them closer to God. In the same way they bring the presence of God to you."

In the seminary, he added that it was mostly a time of personal formation, but in the parishes it is pretty open.

"The people want you to gauge them where they are at," he said. "I think that's what the big change is. I find out where the people are at and find out what their needs and concerns are and what they want to know about their faith and God. They call upon you to bring that message. It's a time of adjustment or going deeper where God calls you to minister to them in the way that they want."

Father McCarthy's mother's brother is a priest. He noted that it runs in his family because there are people in religious life on both sides of his family.

"For me personally, God put that little tug in my heart that I wouldn't be totally satisfied unless I was a priest," explained Father McCarthy. "I have been able to acquire the fullness of a vocation to the priesthood."

What he finds most fulfilling is saying Mass, celebrating the sacraments of reconciliation, baptism, marriage and even sometimes funerals.

"They are blessed moments where the presence of God is just there," said Father McCarthy. "It is a time of special blessing for me. I meet so many great people. People want to see the church flourish and their families grow holy. Those are all special blessings."

At Struble he was able to help with their centennial celebration and was able to work with different people there. During the coming months, he added that it would be a challenge to go through his first Holy Week as a priest.

"I think you are always challenged to find the time to minister to everyone you encounter because there are just so many different things you could be doing. In a way, you almost have to pick and choose what you can spend the most time on," said Father McCarthy. "I think you are challenged to bring them a message of hope that we are building the church right now for the future generations."