#137 The Sacrament of Holy Orders with Father Luke Wilgenbusch
In this week’s episode, Father Luke Wilgenbusch and I are diving into the importance of the priesthood and why priests are such a vital gift to our Catholic faith. As midlife Catholic women, we often juggle family, work, and community, and it can be easy to overlook the powerful role of the priesthood in our spiritual lives. Yet, without the priesthood, we wouldn't have the Eucharist—the greatest gift God has given us!
Father Wilgenbusch shares his perspective on the sacredness and responsibility of being a priest, acknowledging the tension between the human flaws of each priest and the sacramental grace that flows through them. It’s a beautiful reminder that priests are human like us, but they also carry out an extraordinary mission to bring Christ to us in the sacraments.
We also discuss how we can support the priesthood, especially in the midst of all the negativity and criticism priests sometimes face. Prayer, encouragement, and loving constructive feedback are just some of the ways we can help lift up our priests, who carry a heavy spiritual burden for us all.
As Catholic moms, we are uniquely positioned to strengthen the priesthood by recognizing the importance of these men who serve in our parishes. Father also offers a thoughtful response to the question of why the priesthood is reserved for men, sharing the deeper theological and spiritual reasons behind the Church’s teaching.
Tune in for this heartwarming and insightful conversation, and learn how you can be a greater support to the priesthood in your own life. Let’s pray, uplift, and appreciate our priests for the incredible role they play in bringing us closer to Christ.
Jennie Guinn is a Catholic speaker, Life Coach, Podcaster, Weekly Radio Show Host on Nashville Catholic Radio and Radio Maria USA, and the founder of Catholic Moms in the Middle. After 26 years of working in Catholic education, Jennie felt God calling her "to step out of the boat" to serve in a new way. In her new ministry, she equips and encourages middle-life women to encounter the love of the Father and to be transformed and healed by the power of the Holy Spirit so they can MAGNIFY Christ in their corner of the world.