A belated Happy APD! This past Wednesday was Administrative Professionals Day. I thought that I’d used the acronym “APD” since that sounds very “officey.” As an aside, I received an email the other day from “downtown” making reference to “EOD.” I wondered who that was and why they should be copied on the email. I only realized later, towards the end of the day, that the sender of the email was requesting a response by the End Of the Day. Opps, sorry! Well, at least say please respond EOD. Anyway, I don’t know who came up with APD. Maybe Hallmark or some national florists association had the idea. APD used to be known as National Secretaries Day…but, “secretary” is soooo yesterday and passé. Administrative professional…well, sounds much more professional and deserving of a pay increase. Think of the many ways in which terms have changed. The trashmen of yesteryear are the sanitation workers of today and may certainly include women. By the way, I don’t ever recall any “trashwymn”…just sayin’. Cashiers and bank tellers today are also APs. I’m talking about the ones that are not automated scanning machines or ATMs. Even priests are affected by shifts in terminology. Assistant priests are now known as parochial vicars and all priests no longer exercise their ministry in a vicariate, but a deanery. Then, there are some former seminarians, like me, that began studies with a year of Pre-Theology, whereas those of today enter a
Propaedeutic Stage. Priest pastors are also affected. Although still called to “shepherd” the souls of a parish, the role of pastor today has developed into an all encompassing administrative position that I suspect would quite surprise the Curé of Ars. The Church is in some ways now beginning to recognize this as we explore new models of effective ministry. Hint: think “hubs” here in the Archdiocese. Jesus, Himself, changed terminology and explored “new models,” if you will. For instance, “seeing” the Risen Jesus, became something much richer, deeper, and more intense than mere physical sight - and such “seeing” effects belief. With Jesus, “models” certainly change as fishermen become apostles and “fish” to be caught live not in the sea, but on land. Perhaps, it could be said that Jesus is the Ultimate Administrative Professional busy transforming terms and models, but much more importantly transforming lives and life itself.
Happy belated APD to all my fellow APs!
Peace!
Fr. Wilson