by father victor on July 31, 2009
Pope Benedict XVI has announced the Church will celebrate a special year for priests to begin on June 19, the 150th anniversary of the death of the Cure of Ars, Saint John Vianney. During the course of the Year, Pope Benedict will proclaim Saint John Vianney as the patron saint of all the priests of the world. In highlighting the Year of the Priest, Pope Benedict called upon the example of Saint John Vianney, this 19th century saint, who represents a “true example of a priest at the service of the flock of Christ.”
Saint John Vianney is widely known to Catholics as the Cure (parish priest) of Ars who won over the hearts of his villagers in France by visiting with them, teaching them about God and reconciling people to the Lord in the confessional. He sometimes spent eleven or twelve hours in the confessional.
After forty-one years of an incredible life of fasting, prayer, and service to the faithful in Ars, he died on August 4, 1859. After a number of years, his body was exhumed because of his impending beatification, and was found perfectly intact. He was made a saint in 1925 after many miracles were attributed to his intercession.
What an amazing saint! He overcame many obstacles to do what he wanted most, to love and serve God. Please remember to pray to him for the welfare of all our priests, and ask him to pray for us so that many young men will choose to become priests.
This jubilee year is a wonderful opportunity to recognize and to honor all the priests in the Church, who touch and transform our lives, who bring us Christ in the holy sacraments, and who act in His place now on this earth.
Author: Sr. Eileen Clifford
by father victor on July 31, 2009
Dear Brother Priest:
We hope that you are getting a chance for physical, mental and spiritual renewal this summer. As we prepare for the upcoming year at St. Joseph’s Seminary, we ask your assistance in encouraging vocations to the priesthood in the Archdiocese of New York. Listed below are a few events and dates for you to keep in mind for the coming year:
- Discernment Weekends for young men ages 18- 40.
November 20-22, 2009 and March 26-28, 2010. Please publicize and please send promising young men from your parish.
- The Cathedral Prep Program for young men in high school.
September 12th Leadership Day; September 18-20;October 16-18; November 6-8;December 11-13
January 15-17; February 19-21; March 19-21;April 16-18
Please publicize and send any interested young men.
- Saint Joseph’s Seminary Open House: Sunday afternoon, November 1, 2009
Please encourage some good families with young sons to visit the seminary. Come to pray and meet with our future priests.
- This is the Year for Priests and the “World Day of Prayer for Priests” will be Sunday, October 18, 2009
If you would like holy cards or posters you may order them directly from the Knights of Columbus at www.kofc.org.
Thank you again for your prayers and encouragement. Your asking a young man to consider the priesthood and your mentorship of him over the years is crucial to vocation work in our archdiocese. We would greatly appreciate any feedback regarding the NYPriest.com Campaign and how you were able to use the holy cards, posters and brochures. If you would like additional materials, please feel free to contact our office.
In Christ,
Fr. Luke M. Sweeney
Director
Fr. Luis F. Saldaña
Assistant Director for Hispanic Vocations
