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A Year for Priest Begins,
A year to develop spiritual perfection
Pope Benedict XVI has declared the Church will observe a year for priests from June 19, 2009. to June 19, 2010.
The purpose of the jubilee year, the pontiff said in a March 16 speech, is simple, yet challenging: “To encourage priests in this striving for spiritual perfection on which, above all, the effectiveness of their ministry depends.”
“Striving for spiritual perfection” especially today, when the Church is facing a priestly shortage and priests must take on additional duties beyond ministering to their flocks, all Catholics must hold up their priests and those who are discerning the call to the priesthood in prayer and support the vital work they do. After all, as Pope Benedict pointed out, without the ministerial priesthood, “there would be neither the Eucharist, nor even the mission nor the Church herself.”
How should you celebrate?
Pray for priests
Pray for vocations to the priesthood and Religious life
Read about the vital role of priests in the life of the Church
Read about priests who shaped our Church and the world
Study the life of St. John Vianney, the Curé of Ars, who will be named patron saint of the world’s priests during the jubilee year
Volunteer at your parish to lift some of the burden off your parish priest
Invite your priest to dinner to thank him for all he has done for you and your family
Have a community celebration honoring your priestsDuring this year BenedictXVI will proclaim St. Jean Marie Vianney the patron saint of all the priests of the world. (he is currently the patron saint of parish priests.) this year marks the 150
th anniversary of Vianney’s death.