Redemptorist Father Dennis Billy began his presentation, “Effectively Preaching the Moral Teachings of the Church,” with an adage:  Preachers set the table, the Lord provides the nourishment.

“We cannot force the teachings of Christ upon anyone,” said Father Billy, addressing about 90 priests of the diocese at the Dec. 13 Priest Spirituality Day. “Our job is to set the table and set it well. If we do our part in setting the table well, the Lord will do his part.”

About 50 priests attended the annual gathering, offered by the diocese as a day of reflection during Advent and an opportunity for fellowship.

Beginning his 50-minute talk, presented in St. Mary Church, Colts Neck, Father Billy recalled such well-known preachers as St. Paul the Apostle, St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas and Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.

But he centered on “The Art of Preaching,” by Alan of Lille, a 12th century French theologian who, Father Billy explained, is not well-known as a preacher today.

In following Alan of Lille’s manual, Father Billy – holder of the John Cardinal Krol Chair of Moral Theology in St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Wynnewood, Pa. – interspersed his own 21st century advice.

Whether through the spoken word, such as homilies; written word, such as letters, and the example of one’s deeds, “Find a way of communicating the message,” Father Billy said.

“Alan says the preacher must win the good will of his audience,” Father Billy said.     Preacher and listener should have a connection, the priest noted. For example, do not lose the listener by being long-winded.

“Remember the adage:  A picture is worth a thousand words,” Father Billy said.

Ultimately, Father Billy concluded, “All we can do is set the table.”

Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., added his remarks on the subject, stressing that in the daily lives of priests, there is probably little that is more important than “good and effective preaching.” The bishop said Father Billy’s academic background showed through, adding, “He was a good teacher and it was very clear.”

“There’s a great concern to have priests that are good and effective preachers,” said Father Matthew Pfleger, parochial vicar of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Moorestown. “Be clear and to the point, so the people can follow and hopefully be inspired.”

Father Pfleger described himself as “a short homilist.”

“If you get long-winded, people don’t know exactly what the message is,” Father Pfleger said. “If you’re clear and to the point, I think people find it easier to follow what you’re saying.”

Father Jim Conover, pastor of St. Rose of Lima, Freehold, said he liked Father Billy’s 3-D approach to preaching: discipleship of following Jesus, discipline of submitting to Christ’s way of life and the decision to use Jesus’ teachings in life.

“It proclaims who we are, what we are and what we are about,” Father Conover said.

Father Bill Bausch, former pastor of St. Mary Parish and now retired in Point Pleasant, said the presentation was “very good, very thorough.”

“You can always learn something,” said Father Bausch, who celebrates Mass in the Point Pleasant, Neptune and Sea Girt areas.