I have seen parish priests and their curates of very different characters, backgrounds and ages... but happy together. Through their efforts they achieved close relationships; they complemented one another in pastoral work, and received love from, and edifying unison with, their people.
They even manage to meditate together, to hear one another’s confessions, to share the income from their ministry, the younger receiving expertise from the older, the older supporting the initiatives of the younger…
The older priest enlightens, instructs, has confidence, provides a healthy environment. He welcomes the priest as a co-worker. He assists him with love and corrects him with dignity. He shows trust, aiming to form a future parish priest who might even be his successor. He cultivates positive traits in him, but above all loves him and seeks his true good.
The younger priest is humble, meek, speaks well of him. He offers help, he lets himself be guided, he promotes and defends the work of the parish. He does every good thing he can, and prepares himself for future works and for a greater future ministry.
Giacomo Alberione
Don Alberione ai sacerdoti
Vita pastorale (Supplemento) 1996, p. 104