My name is Father Paul Nicholson.  I am a diocesan (secular) priest, in the diocese of London, Ontario, Canada.  I am a pastor in a small rural community.  I have the care of two churches, St. Joseph’s and St. Mary of Perpetual Help.  I was ordained in 1997 at St. Peter’s Cathedral Basilica in London, Ontario.  I received my seminary education at St. Peter’s Seminary, which is also in London.  I come from a devout Catholic family.  I’m the youngest of six brothers and I am an associate member of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross.           

There was no center of Opus Dei in my small town where I grew up.  In fact, Opus Dei, was totally unheard of.  How I found Opus Dei is an illustration that controversy and calumny can be worked to God’s advantage.         

Faithfully, each year, my mother would go to the famed shrines of Quebec to pray and petition, St. Anne, St. Joseph, and Our Lady for assistance in the never ending problems that seemed to afflict our family.  In my grade eight year, I accompanied my mother on her pilgrimage.  At the beautiful basilica of Mary, Queen of the World in downtown Montreal, I encountered a small book display.  I was then, and even more so now, captivated by books.  One book stood out, because it was the smallest.  Tastefully designed, I placed my outstretched hand on my first copy of “The Way”.  I was immediately transfixed by the simple “sermon-in-a-sentence”.  I’d like to say the book provoked a major conversion.  Alas, I’m still waiting for that to happen.  I did not have any mystical experiences with the book.  It just met a real spiritual need in my adolescence.  I used it all through high school; seldom going to church without it.  Funny as it sounds, I had no intellectual curiosity about it’s author.  I made no inquiries about its publication or anything.  I simply ate and was satisfied.         

I entered St. Peter’s Seminary in London in the autumn of 1989.  I must admit, the seminary was not an easy fit.  I had been deeply involved in the right to life movement, specifically the direct action movement called Operation Rescue.  The heady, turbulent days of direct action against legalized abortion had given me a great deal of clarity about the state of society and the state of the Church.  I came to the seminary with scars from the culture wars.  Within the first week, my entrance class of 15 men, were given a presentation by a woman religious on collaborative ministry.  I heard the sister read a letter from her co-religionists in Peru who complained bitterly of Opus Dei.  They complained, yes, but they calumniated the Prelature of Opus Dei primarily because of its ecclesiology.  These sisters were deeply involved in Liberation Theology, they had embraced Marxist ideology, and it didn’t take much effort to see that their complaints while directed at Opus Dei, were in fact directed at the Church herself.  This same religious instructed us for the next eight years on ‘collaborative ministry”  Following that class, I returned to my room to look around.  I was convinced I had seen that name before; Opus Dei.  The little book, that I had used to exhaustion, now became a key.  I consider that sister, in fact, the mother of my vocation to Opus Dei.  I try to pray for her everyday in gratitude.           

There is no center of Opus Dei in London, Ontario (yet).  The Work had only recently arrived in Toronto in 1982.  A small center, I quickly became acquainted with the priests.  My first encounter with a chapel of Opus Dei, still fills me with emotion.  Upon entering the small oratory of Ullerston center, I felt a profound Presence.  Here I could see what work was meant for. 

The care and the custody of the tabernacle and the altar led me to exclaim: “See how they love Him!”.  Against the annoying obstacle of distance, I began frequenting the activities of the Work.  There, the little book of “The Way” took on flesh.  I felt no urge to join Opus Dei.  I knew from the start that I was meant for the secular priesthood in the diocese of London.  I understood that I could be “part” of Opus Dei without leaving my obligations or duties as a diocesan priest.           

The numerous obstacles that I have encountered both as a seminarian and as a priest have been the result of the much larger struggle in the Church due to ecclesiology.  I am convinced that Opus Dei represents a clear picture of official Catholicism.  Since the 1960’s when varied attempts have been made to re-make the Church in Canada, Opus Dei stands fully, entirely and completely with the Pope.  This adherence to the Pope creates a lot of complications for a diocesan priest.  Loyalty to the Holy Father and his teachings are interpreted as being “papal maximalist” or “ultra-montagne”.  This is because the contrary position believes that the local Church is supreme; the national church, the ideal.  Anyone who does not know Canada must realize that our afflictions began in 1968 when our bishops issued the infamous Winnipeg statement that diminished the authority of Humanae Vitae; thus challenging papal authority.  This challenge has very long roots and has found its way into dioceses across our country.  Association with Opus Dei then, is as far as I can see, a step away from the ‘national church’ and regressive step to papal domination.           

It would be nice to put a sunshiny face on everything and make-believe that everybody loves Opus Dei in Canada.  Sadly, it isn’t that way.         

Would it be easier not to belong?  The trade off isn’t even worth considering.  Opus Dei has brought such joy and meaning to my priesthood, that I can literally say; “a day within your courts are better than a thousand elsewhere”.  Opus Dei is the original ‘accountability software’.  The struggle for sanctity in the priesthood can remain a very high ideal to which regular daily lip service can be offered.  However, through regular spiritual direction with a brother priest who is really determined to love God and serve others, the path to holiness becomes visible and possible.  Opus Dei has put me in touch with my fallen self; not to leave me there, but push me to aim higher.  It has also unlocked my creativity.  Through my relationship with Opus Dei, I’ve been forced out of my isolation and compelled to be a friend to my brother priests.  I’m nudged to dig up priestly vocations, and I’m challenged to expand the horizon of the laity to embrace their baptismal call (which, by the way, exceeds the steps of the sanctuary and church ministries)         

The problem with the ‘local church’ or ‘national church’ ecclesiology is that it does not admit to variations.  It insists on the one party mentality.  Everything, absolutely everything must done according to diocesan or Canadian guidelines.  However, the Catholic Church is the mother of tolerance.  So long as the faith is lived and preached in its entirety, the Church allows for variety.             

Being part of Opus Dei has made me more adventurous in dealing with souls.  I’ve taken young people to the World Youth Days, worked in orphanages in Romania, helped incredibly generous families in catechizing youth and conspired to bring young couples together.         

St. Josemaria opened a new path in the Church for the laity; but he also stirred the waters of the secular clergy.  I’m deeply grateful he invited me in to splash around.