By Peter K. Ilchuk

The priest encounters many problems each day as he prepares to meet the people of his parish. In this day in the life of a newly ordained priest, problems can vary from little boys with “visions” to explaining the Church to a Baptist group.

“Too often the problems of the parish do not come to the rectory. We must seek out these problems in the people’s homes so that we might be better able to serve them.”

So said Father James Maciejewski, Assistant Pastor of St. Jude the Apostle parish in Sandy Springs. Ordained May 8 in the Cathedral of Christ the King, he is a native of Buffalo, New York, and transferred to Atlanta in 1963 to work in an area in greater need of priests. He attended high school and college before deciding to enter the seminary. It was during his last year in Siena College, Loudonville, New York, that the decision was made to turn from the study of law to service in the Church.

With Father John D. Stapleton, pastor of St. Jude’s away, Father Jim (his parishioners find the pronunciation difficult) was a bit busier than normal. As is customary he started the day with confessions before Mass, then the daily 8:00 Mass held in the school.

Quickly traveling the two miles back to the present rectory in a residential section of Sandy Springs, Father arrived in time for his 8:50 a.m. discussion with a young non-Catholic about to marry a Catholic girl. Hardly was the talk concluded than Father encountered his next parishioner.

A young boy about eleven told Father about his “vision” at the Cathedral Sunday. After communion he had imagined Christ’s head on the crucifix to had moved.

In a casual comforting way, Father Jim explained to him that Christ or his mother only very rarely make known their presence in an unusual way. The usual way is through the Sacraments. Afterward when questioned about the possibility of such a thing happening he was quick to quote, “Omnes sunt possibile -- All things are possible.”

A readers of the late Jewish philosopher Martin Buber, Father Jim strongly believes in the application of the “I-Thou” theory to spiritual relationships. He remarked that, “In this world where so many people are lost in the crowd, it is important for them to get into a close relationship with someone. So much so in spiritual formation that they might enter into a personal encounter with Christ, especially in the sacraments.” He stressed that he tries to alert his parishioners to its fuller meaning.

Already late, the next appointment was with a Baptist teenage group and their minister, interested in ecumenism, the group had arranged a tour of the Church.

In simple terms, Father discussed the various aspects of the Church. Briefly he touched upon confession, the real presence and the sacrifice of the Mass, illustrated with the host and wine the various functions of different items in the Church for the Mass, vestments, and the people’s part in the Mass.

In fulfilling the customary role of the priest in the parish, Father Jim took time out to visit the children of the vacation catechism class. Enjoying this contact with youngsters Father discussed with the young children what they had learned that morning. Then, much to their delight he gave each a holy card. His brief visit was concluded by individually blessing each child.

Lunchtime was rapidly approaching, but time was available for a few calls in the dispensing of his duties.

In discussing after lunch his preparation in the seminary to become a priest, Father Jim said that “seminary studies need to be undertaken with more of a pastoral application.”

The next hours were spent reciting the Divine Office and planning the afternoon visits, “Most of my time during the week is spent in calling on parishioners. I hope to visit every member of the parish within a year,” he said.

Not as yet too well acquainted with his parish, he found a map to be a definite necessity in planning his route.

Father Jim finds great consolation in helping people in confession.

“The most satisfying time spent each day is in the confessional before Mass. It is here that I am really able to assist the people, and help them meet Christ in the sacraments. I also find the afternoon visit to parishioners most rewarding.”

The afternoon visitation is an integral part of the priestly work. A fifteen-minute trip to Roswell, Georgia, took us to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bradach and their children. In the more relaxed atmosphere of their home, the Bradachs were better able to know this new priest. Father Jim’s congeniality had little Mary Ann, sitting on his lap most of the time, feeling quite at home with him.

Three other families were visited that afternoon before he came back for an evening conference with Tom Hughes, who is discussing the possibility of becoming a Catholic. A Presbyterian now, he meets with Father to study the faith.

He was hardly finished with Tom when Yvonne Freant, preparing to be married that weekend, came to make some last minute arrangements.

This will be the first time Father Jim has officiated at a wedding.

Finally managing to get away for dinner about 9:00 p.m., Father Jim afterward prepared a homily for the next day’s Mass. In the late evening, Father found the time to conclude the personal daily prayers of the priestly life.

“We have to strike the proper balance between the active and the contemplative life of the priest. This contemplative aspect is primarily filled through the Divine Office and visits to the Blessed Sacrament.”

Even when putting in more than sixteen hours a day, Father Jim still enjoys his work since “each day brings a new challenge, a different problem and a better way of serving God and our parish.”