Priesthood Sunday

Sunday, September 29, 2024

The work of a Serran is to support and foster vocations to priesthood and religious life. This work doesn't stop once the vocation is consecrated. Priesthood Sunday offers an opportunity to support priests. Here are some suggested ways to make that support reality:

  1. Send a note to your parish priest thanking him for his vocation and for the work he does in shepherding his parish flock. Let him know how much his presence in the parish life means to you.
  2. Offer your Sunday Mass intention for your parish priest.
  3. Invite a priest to dinner.
  4. On Saturday, September 21, 2024, begin the Novena to St. John Marie Vianney, Patron of Priests.
  5. Say a Rosary for your parish priest. In fact say a Rosary for all the priests important in your life. Pray each decade of the Rosary specifically for:
  • the priest who Baptized you
  • the priest who heard your first Confession and gave you First Holy Communion
  • the bishop (priest) who Confirmed you
  • the priest who witness your Marriage vows (or the priest who witnessed your parents' marriage vows)
  • the priest who will give you the Annointing of the Sick

Let us offer this Prayer for Priests, composed by Pope Benedict XVI:

Lord Jesus Christ, eternal High Priest,
you offered yourself to the Father on the altar of the cross
and through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit
gave your priestly people a share in your redeeming sacrifice.
Hear our prayer for the sanctification of our priests.
Grant that all who are ordained to the ministerial priesthood
may be ever more conformed to you, the Divine Master.
May they preach the Gospel with pure heart and clear conscience.
Let them be shepherds according to your own heart,
single-minded in service to you and to the Church,
and shining examples of a holy, simple, and joyful life.
Through the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary, your Mother and ours,
draw all priests and the flocks entrusted to their care
to the fullness of eternal life where you live and reign
with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

St. John Vianney, Patron of Parish Priests, pray for us!