At a meeting of priests, we were divided into different workshops. The group I was in was about the sacramentality of the priesthood. Some brothers seemed very discouraged by developments within the church. They no longer felt supported. I shared my experience of enjoying celebrating the Eucharist. "But the same Jesus that I encounter as a source in the Eucharist can also be experienced by me when honest and authentic encounters take place. Then I feel: Jesus is there, hidden, and fills my heart with a deep joy," I said. At the end of the meeting, a confrere came who had done an internship in my home parish over 30 years ago and whom I hadn't seen for years. He sat down next to me and said: "It did me so much good what you just shared about yourself. I have the same experience. By the way, is your mum still alive?" When I answered in the affirmative, he went on to ask and named the exact street where he had visited her a long time ago. "That was such a nice encounter back then. That's why I've memorised the street!"
