Msgr. Jean Pierre
Back
Born in Haiti in 1954, he speaks fluent English and Spanish. In May, 1988, he became the first Haitian priest to be ordained for the archdiocese. In addition to his duties as pastor, he directs the Society for the Propagation of the Faith for the archdiocese.
His description of the ideal priest:
“Being a priest is the ideal. It’s not so much what you are supposed to do. It’s what you are supposed to be. You can bring this ideal about in your personal life and in the life of others.”
Priestly stereotype that should be discarded:
“That priests are unhappy and our life is a sacrifice and misery. That’s not true. I have so much fun being a priest it’s just incredible.”
What he did before becoming a priest:
While studying for his master’s degree, he used to support himself by playing the organ in churches in Toronto. “Italian churches – can you imagine?”
Favorite book:
“Don Quixote” by Cervantes: “His ability to see what a lot of people couldn’t see. To feel what a lot of people couldn’t feel. To be able to search and find goodness where a lot of people would not be able to find it. I think we need to do that also to believe in a human being so much that finally that person, seeing how much you believe in her, begins to believe in herself.”
Person he most admires, other than Christ:
“My 95-year-old father, a man of faith, of conviction, who cares deeply for the people and who would share the shirt off his back with anybody in need.”
" I discovered in the priesthood that you can do a lot of good. You can be a sign. "
When he knew he wanted to be a priest:
He thought about it after his first Communion. In high school, he considered becoming a musician or a doctor but the idea of the priesthood stayed with him. “My father and mother always prayed for vocations. They always ended their prayer with, ‘if it’s the will of God that a vocation should come out of the family, may the will of God be done.’ I don’t think they were thinking about me. When I began really to think about the priesthood, my father’s prayer became my prayer, basically: Lord, if it is your will that I become a priest, guide me, and may your will be done.”
Who was most surprised by his vocation:
His father, who jokes that he used to believe All Saints Day was the feast for deceased priests and religious until his son became a priest. “Now he knows better. But since I became a priest, I can never get him to call me by my name. He calls me ‘father.’”
Greatest joy:
“I have a lot of them. I discovered in the priesthood that you can do a lot of good. You can be a sign.”
Greatest disappointment:
Haiti
At one point, Fr. Pierre thought he might pursue a career in music. Today, he plays the piano for relaxation.
Most difficult aspect of being a priest:
“It can be crazy sometimes,” such as a recent Saturday when he presided at the funeral of a 20-year-old and a couple of hours later witnessed the marriage of two young people. “One minute I was terribly sad. The next hour I was smiling. Isn’t that crazy? You pass from one type of sad feeling to a joyful and happy moment If you are not well balanced, that’s going to take a toll on you.”
His biggest challenge:
“Challenges are also opportunities.” When he was named pastor of St. James, the school was on the verge of closing and parish buildings were run-down. He figured, “It cannot get any worse. Anything I do will be fine. I started working with my hands, cleaning. As the people saw me working, they joined me.”
Thing he most fears:
“The degradation I have seen around the world. We are becoming more and more insensitive to the plight of the poor, like somebody watching TV with a remote control. If we get to something unpleasant we just turn it off and tune out. It is very sad to see.”
