Fr. Samer Naaman: Loving as the Father Loves

Fr. Samer Naaman during Liturgy at St. Basil's Melkite-Greek Catholic Parish

I believe that the priestly vocation is founded and grown in a believing family that sets a good example for its children. My father used to participate in Mass every day, and so did my mother. In addition, she was involved in spiritual activities in several churches near our house. My brothers and I saw their faith and were affected by their devout practice. In addition, my uncle was a bishop, and he visited us at home from time to time. My brothers and I enjoyed meeting him and listening to his words. His presence often made us wonder about the priestly vocation and the reasons that motivate a person to become a priest... 

The thought of the priestly vocation first came into my mind at the age of twelve when I said for the first time: "I want to be a priest." My parents didn't pay any attention to my words then because I was young and probably unaware of what I was saying. With time, I became sure of my desire to be a priest in the service of God and mankind. I moved away from my brothers and my parents at the age of eighteen to study philosophy and theology, and I was very happy. I was certain of the Lord Jesus' saying that “every sacrifice we make for Christ on earth, we get double it in this life plus eternal life,” and that there is “greater joy in giving than in receiving.” In my university studies, which lasted eight years, my theological knowledge was established, especially in the theology of Christ, the interpretation of the Bible and the meaning of the sacraments... As for studying philosophy, it gave me the ability to think logically, open up to the truth in others, and to accept the other as different. 

I worked hard in my priestly ministry to be open to everyone, and to serve every person, and I realized how much people today are in need of people who would listen to them. So I trained in listening skillfully and worked hard on knowing people’s needs in order to help them meet those. What enhanced my skills were my master's studies at the University of Montreal in accompanying patients in hospitals. Therefore, studying for a master’s degree in theology taught me a lot about listening and its importance, and my first booklet came out under the title “Psychological and Spiritual Accompaniment.” As for my master's in philosophy, it taught me the importance of dialogue between human beings, religions and cultures in order to enrich humanity and to reduce conflict. And I reached the following conviction:  the difference between humans is natural, and their difference in seeing God is natural. As for their human intellectual and ideological differences, they are natural, logical, and necessary. 
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I thank God for granting me the grace of priesthood which I do not deserve no matter how hard I work for it; I ask him to abide in me till the end, because if I were to go back in time and age, my choice would be nothing other than the priesthood. The priest, in my view, is a father who loves all human beings in the example of his heavenly Father, and works to serve them, especially spiritually.

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Written by Fr. Samer Naaman for Faithfully, October 2021.

Fr. Samer Naaman

Fr. Samer Naaman is ordained on June 29, 1996. He started his ministry in Calgary on July 1, 2020. He is the pastor of St. Basil's Melkite-Greek Catholic Parish
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