Immaculate CONCEPTION
Riley
Welcoming FR. Ben
into
O
n May 29, Deacon Ben Riley Reconciliation,” Fr. Riley says. “I want became a disciple of Christ in to sit with people in the midst of an extraordinary, generous their suffering and pain and way through his ordination to express God’s love and mercy the Eternal Priesthood of Jesus to them. I hope to be a conduit Christ. When he received the for Our Lord, and bring Sacrament of Holy Orders, people hope and healing in he was given a sacred power the confessional.” (sacra potestas) to act in total Looking back, Fr. Riley sacramental identification sees how God was preparing with Christ; his soul was him to become a priest ever surrendered to Holy Mother since he was young. the Church, and his heart was “My uncle was a Catholic given over to selfless service priest,” he says. “He was a until the end of his days. great role model and influence At this time, Fr. Riley is living for me, and he showed me how out the divine calling he has received great the priesthood can be. When I among us, as part of our parish family. was growing up, he asked me if I wanted Fr. Ben Riley Now as a priest, he hopes to shower God’s to be a priest. I said, ‘No, I am going abundant graces on our faith community and to marry this girl in my class, and we will be make it come alive with His goodness. together forever!’” “I am most looking forward to celebrating the Although this isn’t what ended up happening, sacraments, especially Mass,” he says. “I love of course, his uncle’s inquisition did make young the Mass because, through it, the community Ben wonder about God’s plan for his life. This of the Church comes together to offer worship lingering question remained in his heart throughout and praise to the Lord, and bring their gifts and his teenage years, while he attended the all-boys sacrifices to the altar so that the priest may Catholic High School in Little Rock. During his offer them up. The church is not just a building time in this unique academic environment, he for the sacraments, but it is also a social hub was deeply encouraged in his faith life, as well as for the faithful where they can express their in his vocational discernment. struggles and pains to people of similar beliefs. I “One of the positive aspects of attending an pray that our parish can build a fortress around all-boys school was that it helped me discern my the Sacrifice of the Mass.” vocation to the priesthood because there were Furthermore, he has a profound devotion to the less distractions in the classroom,” he says. mercy of God and is grateful to have the opportunity “I could study and socialize without having to to bring this mercy to souls through Confession. worry about what girls would think of me.” “I have a real devotion to the Sacrament of Along the way, young Ben encountered a
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