There I sat. It was the morning after my ordination, and I spent some time at my home parish in Haubstadt, Indiana. I prayed about the previous day in our diocesan cathedral. I prayed about the previous 8 years of seminary formation. I prayed about how the Lord had called me in both quiet and in overt ways over the past 28 years, and I prayed about the days ahead.
Ordination was over. Seminary was done. ‘Day 1’ of priesthood dawned. What were to be the greatest joys? How or where would I find the Cross? How would grace surprise me? That morning I decided to chronical these first days on Instagram and Facebook (“#fathertylersfirst100days”), and for the following months I shared the joys, struggles, and unexpected graces that have come my way.
On Day 4, I joined the One Bread One Cup conference for Confessions, vesting behind the monks’ stalls in the Abbey Church. For the first time, I sat as a brother priest with the monks who had taught and guided me. On Day 7 I chose to bless my hometown with holy water rather than throwing out candy while serving as parade grand marshal. On Day 80 I anointed my aunt before her surgery, and on day 79, just weeks before he passed away, I concelebrated a Mass with Fr. Hillary Meny who, at 101 years old, still uttered the words of consecration after 76 years of priestly ministry.
But there were tough days, too. On Day 18, the first at my new parish assignment, I took an emergency call from a hospital before unpacking a single box from my stuffed car. I didn’t even have my oils stocked and had to borrow. Days 39, 78 and 98 were so busy I had forgotten what happened before reading them again, and the toughest and yet one of the most beautiful, too, came later on Day 150 when I received a card from a family whose premature son I baptized at the hospital minutes before he died on Day 142. It was the Feast of All Saints.
On Day 25 I met a drifter in the parking lot, and on Day 59 I met a woman at Home Depot. They saw my black clothing and white collar and knew who I was: a mediator between God and man. On Day 26 I found myself surprised by grace as a few tears welled up in my eyes at a funeral home for a man I didn’t even know.
Today is Day 162, and I am writing this article. What began as a simple prayer asking the Lord’s presence in my new life as a priest became a powerful avenue for sharing the life of a 21st century Catholic priest.
A grade-school boy had been following this journey on Instagram with his mother. On Day 74, he joined me for private Mass. As he sat in that chapel, he prayed about what God has in store for his life. If God is calling him like He called me, then there will be no more adventurous, meaningful, and fulfilling life he could imagine.
If you would like to follow my journey as a priest, search for the hastag "fathertylersfirst100days" on social media, or, check out the places I often publish photos, stories and share other information and reflections:
Instagram: "tylertenbarge" ( https://www.instagram.com/tylertenbarge/ )
Twitter: "@TylerTenbarge" ( https://twitter.com/TylerTenbarge )
Facebook: "Father Tyler Tenbarge" ( https://www.facebook.com/Father-Tyler-Tenbarge-1094678437270820/ )
This article appeared in the first issue of Voices from the Vineyard, and was published Spring 2017.
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