How can I ask my priest for better homilies?
10th May 2009 - 5th Sunday of Easter

Our last pastor gave good homilies, and I got a lot out of them. Our new pastor either tells jokes or talks about what he did during the week. How can I get him to preach better homilies? - Hungry for the Word

Dear Hungry for the Word,

First, let me commend you for wanting to get something out of the homily and not just accepting bad preaching as a necessary evil. Priests are just like anyone else: each has his gifts, and not everyone is a gifted preacher. One of the best things parishioners can do for their priest is to give him some honest, specific, helpful feedback instead of the generic “Nice homily, Father,” which people say so automatically that it’s been said to me even when I wasn’t the priest who delivered the homily.

Most priests don’t get a lot of quality feedback on their preaching. Some may find it hard to hear a critique, but most would welcome sincere, constructive criticism as long as it comes from the heart and the goal is to make them better preachers. This could even be done in a letter; just be sure to sign it so he will take it seriously and be able to contact you for further feedback.

Do keep in mind that a homily is not the same as a sermon. Whereas a sermon often includes a lot of moralizing (don’t pull your sister’s hair!), a homily must artfully draw the listener into questions of the human heart and bring that day’s Scripture reading to bear on those questions. In that “moment’ we hear-in faith-how hope, love, sacrifice, and belief in God guide us in our life’s journey.

Rick Potts, C.Ss.R.