During Lent, Pope Francis said, Catholics—and especially Catholic seminarians—should rediscover the joy of simplicity, and pay less attention to their appearance and more to their prayer lives.

Members at last October’s synod, which included cardinals, bishops, women and men religious, lay men and women, noted their concern with the almost total absence of parish priests at the synod assembly.

Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta, adjunct secretary of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, said that the Church should reconsider the celibacy requirement for Latin-rite priests.

Looking back on 60 years of priesthood, the author notes the importance of the cross, the Eucharist, faith and grace in giving people meaning, purpose and hope in life.

Data showing the theological divide between younger and older priests—as well as between younger priests and the laity—could serve as a mandate to heal the scandal of division within our own church.

When I imagine how the next 11 months can be used most fruitfully, I think about something, or rather someone, who is largely missing from the synod in Rome: the parish priest.