Photo provided by Fr. Brogan Ryan, C.S.C.
When I was at the Holy Cross Novitiate, I took an interest in gardening, especially growing plants from seed. I would collect whatever seeds I could find, put them in pots and see what came up. I found planting my randomly collected seeds to be a little exercise in hope and got a thrill every time something would sprout.
Since the novitiate, I’ve tried to continue and develop this avocation. Every spring, usually around Ash Wednesday, I get a little itch to start gathering seeds and planting.
The trouble with planting seeds, though, is that they grow! And when they grow, they need tended to.
Being on an academic calendar during formation and in my first years of priesthood meant that I was often in a different location during the summer than the spring, so I wasn’t physically present to nurture the sprouted seeds into fruitful plants. Often times, the thrill of my springtime hope in seeds sprouting ended up being its own, and the final, reward.
This past spring, as hope was sprouting in front of me, I found out that the new superior in our local community also has an affinity for gardening. So, while I was away for parts of the summer, he watered and minded the little plants that were growing – helping them grow all the way into fruit bearing plants. Through our combined efforts, we’ve been able to enjoy vegetables, herbs and flowers all planted from seed.
It is often the case in our religious life and ministry that we have many personal opportunities to “plant seeds.” In ministerial relationships, invitations to different apostolates and ministries, opportunities to preach and do sacramental ministry; in all of these we are invited to plant seeds of the Gospel as uniquely gifted individuals. With each of these invitations comes the promise of new hope and opportunities to do life- giving ministry for each of us. As I’ve learned through my little gardening hobby, though, the seeds we are invited to plant as individuals bear a whole lot more fruit when we nurture them together.
The Constitutions of the Congregation of Holy Cross remind us that “our calling is to serve the Lord Jesus in mission not as independent individuals but in a brotherhood” (Constitution 33). It also states that “we live and work as priests and brothers together” and that “our mutual respect and shared undertaking should be a hopeful sign of the kingdom” (Constitution 11). Not only are there practical gifts and graces that come from sharing our ministry as Holy Cross religious, we also become more hopeful signs of God’s kingdom when we do so.
I give thanks for the ways that God has invited me to sow seeds as an individual, but I also give thanks for the ways that those gifts and seeds have been nurtured by our community. The most fruitful moments of my ministry as a Holy Cross religious and priest have been when I have been engaged in ministry supported, nurtured and accompanied by my brothers.
Fr. Brogan Ryan, C.S.C.
Published August 6, 2025
Pictured: Fr. Frank Murphy, C.S.C., and Fr. Brogan Ryan, C.S.C.