Priesthood Sunday

Priesthood Sunday, October 25, is a day especially chosen to celebrate the sacrament of Holy Orders—the sacrament of priestly dedication. This Sunday we acknowledge and honor the priests of our parish. Msgr. Tom, Fr. Carter, and Fr. Jean serve us with holy guidance, patient teaching, and gentle spiritual encouragement. They deliver an opportunity for us to grow closer to God as they serve "In the Person of Christ." Their vocation calls them to serve as pastoral counselors for our sprititual journey. Now let us offer prayer and heartfelt thanks for their sacrifice and commitment:

A Priesthood Sunday Prayer

O Jesus, our great High Priest, hear our humble prayers on behalf of your priests, Monsignor Gervasio, Fr. Carter, and Fr. Jean. Give them a deep faith, a bright and firm hope and a burning love that will ever increase in the course of their priestly life.

In their loneliness, comfort them in their sorrows, strengthen them in their frustrations, point out to them that it is through suffering that the soul is purified, and show them that they are needed by the Church, they are needed by souls, they are needed for the work of redemption.

O loving Mother Mary, Mother of Priests, take to your heart your sons who are close to you because of their priestly ordination and because of the power that they have received to carry on the work of Christ in a world that needs them so much.

Be their comfort, be their joy, be their strength, and especially help them to live and to defend the ideals of consecrated celibacy.

Amen.