"Then he said to the disciple, 'Behold your mother!' And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home" (John 19:17). In this program of The Priesthood, Fr. David Howell, diocesan priest from Southwark, England, recalls this fundamental moment of Christ's Passion to show us that the priest truly has a Mother who is always there to intercede for her children. Mary is present in every moment of her children's lives; sometimes discreetly, but she is there. Even in moments of joy, of happiness, of suffering, and in moments when it seems that no one is there, she is always there as a Mother. Fr. David also encourages the priest to go to her because she is his mother and she can help him to be a father to souls.

Some people may have many questions about the sacrament of confession: Why do I need to go to confession? Why is it not good for me to tell my sins directly to God? What is the reason why Jesus instituted confession? In this episode of The Priesthood, Fr. David Howell, a diocesan priest from Southwark, England, answers these questions and more. Using the parable of the prodigal son, he brings us closer to the figure of the merciful Christ, who stands on the cross with open arms, ready to listen to us and to forgive us. Jesus already knows our sins, but he knows that we need to put them into words so that we can free ourselves from them by giving them to him. Fr. David experiences this sacrament as an immense gift that he, as a priest, can offer to souls.

In this episode of The Priesthood, Fr. David Howell, diocesan priest from Southwark, England, recalls what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says: "The Eucharist is the source and summit of all Christian life." He emphasizes the importance of this sacrament and explains that the most important moment in history takes place in Holy Mass. Christ's sacrifice is made present in an invisible but real way. Fr. David expresses his gratitude to God for his great mercy and love for each and every soul because he has truly remained with us in the Eucharist. The priest celebrates Holy Mass to serve God's holy people.

In this episode of The Priesthood, Fr. David Howell, diocesan priest from Southwark, England, introduces us to St. John Henry Newman's thoughts on why God chose men to be His priests. "We are not necessary for His plan, but He chooses us to help people come closer to Him through sinners like themselves". For Fr. David, it is a great consolation to see how Christ chooses his priests, not in spite of the fact that they are sinners, but because of it. This leads the priest to remember that his mission is to help the laity to sanctify themselves in everything they do, and thus to help them with his counsel in the experience of becoming saints. Christ calls his elect to be like him: the Good Shepherd.

After reading John Paul II's catechesis on Theology of the Body, Father David Howell, diocesan priest from Southwark, England, discovered celibacy as the great gift the Lord gave him when he called him to priesthood. Thanks to this book and the example of the commitment of priests close to him, he was able to deepen his understanding of what spiritual fatherhood means. In this episode of The Priesthood, Fr. David explains that the key is to have an exclusive, heart-to-heart relationship with Christ. The priest who lives in this way will be able to transmit and witness the future life to which we are all called.

On the day of ordination to the priesthood, one often looks back on the time of formation in the seminary. Fr. David Howell, a diocesan priest from Southwark, England, spent seven years in the seminary where he experienced times of blessings, challenges, growth, mistakes, joys, pains...; but he also experienced a wonderful time. One of the things that has stayed with him the most since the day of his ordination is the opportunity to be a channel of grace and an encounter of souls with Christ. "This is the priesthood, the opportunity to have an encounter with Jesus Christ through a person chosen for this purpose." Don't miss this episode of The Priesthood in which Father David recalls all the blessings he received that day and how he received an immense grace from Our Mother that night.