Editor’s Note: This essay is adapted from a recent letter to the priests of the Archdiocese of Chicago, which was also shared with the priests of the Archdiocese of Washington.

On Dec. 19, 1969, I prostrated myself for the Litany of the Saints in front of the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica before my ordination. Shivering from the cold of the unheated church, I had no idea what would transpire over the next 52 years. Despite my own failures — and there were more than enough of them — my time of priestly ministry has been an incalculable blessing. I can readily say a great “Amen” to it all.

When I fast-forward to 2021, I experience a church and priesthood facing enormous challenges. Although comparisons are always tricky, I think it is safe to say that today’s priests stand before many unprecedented challenges. These challenges stem from our…