By Laura Mirigliani

Over the course of the last five years that Father Roland Slobogin has been a "twin pastor" at St. Francis de Sales and Most Blessed Sacrament Parishes, he has seen a lot of changes and has been pulled in many directions. However, despite the fact that overseeing two completely different and diverse parishes is overwhelming emotionally and physically at times, it has also been a tremendous gift. "The strength I get from my two communities, plus the very character of priesthood. I just love it."

Father believes it is important for all people, including priests, to take care of themselves by balancing all aspects of their life spiritually, emotionally, physically and mentally. If one of these is out of balance it affects the others. "There is a certain amount of stress needed for growth but it is important to know when the stress goes too far and to maintain a balance."

"When your time is very much demanded of you. You have a responsibility to make sure you are centered. You can easily find yourself being pulled here and there and losing a sense of your own togetherness. Life can do this to all of us whether you are a priest, a parent or in the workplace. You realize the importance that religion, church and The Eucharist have on our center. It is from this center that we come together and it is from The Eucharist that we are fed."

Father believes people need to find a creativeness in their prayerful response and let the spirit of God generate that within them. He encourages people to find a place where they can be alone with God. Maybe by lighting a candle and being at peace to put your life in perspective and slowing down. "It is important to take the time and bring our lives before God and before Jesus."

"The basic idea of this interview is to turn our lives over in prayer to the Spirit of God and following this prayer. A lot of times in meetings I thought I knew the answers and I felt very strong in my opinions. Often times through prayer and meditation I realized I was wrong. The direction I wanted to take wasn't always the direction we should take. It was very humbling. We are all caught up in the direction of our work, but we also have the ability to see the deeper direction of the whole thing. We must stay alive spiritually."

Summer 2004