ENTER THE “YEAR FOR PRIESTS”

On the Feast of the Sacred Heart this year 2009, the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI will proclaim the Year for Priests (June 19, 2009 – June 19, 2010).  His predecessor, Pope John Paul II recommended this feast day each year as the Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests.  He found a strong link between the Heart of Jesus and the life of service each priest renders to the Lord and His people.  This year also marks the 150^th death anniversary of St. John Mary Vianney, patron saint of parish priests, whom the present pope will declare “patron saint of all priests”.  A relevant quote is attributed to this saint also connecting the Sacred Heart and priestly life:  “The priesthood is the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.”

Let us pray for all our priests here and abroad, for religious priests and diocesan priests, for curia priests and missionaries, for old and young, for priests and their bishops and for the most accessible priests – our parish priests.  As people who benefit from the self-giving of our priests, let us take time to appreciate them and express our gratitude to them for their sacrifices. People have become so sensitively aware of the negative image of the priesthood that they have forgotten the treasure the Church possesses in this great sacrament that represents Jesus in the world.

Pope Benedict desires to encourage all priests to be faithful and committed to their mission.  Lay people needs to know that they are their priests’ inspiration, too and thus, they have an immense potential to encourage their priests in their daily struggles. Seminarians too, our future priests, need all the support we have so that they will continue pursuing their initial intention to live for the Lord Jesus and His Church.

Of course, bishops, the fathers of priests in their ministry, are expected to be the first to show concern for their sons.

Lately, I met a bishop and heard from him about his great devotion for the welfare of his priests.  Assigned to a diocese that was just rising from the ashes, he focused his energy first on the rehabilitation of the priests.  He has since encouraged them not to lose focus, to take time out for rest and recreation, to study and improve them selves, to take the risk of growing in other areas of life and ministry.  This bishop also focused on seminarians who he encouraged to know their would-be brothers in the priestly fraternity of their diocese, to delve into themselves addressing their issues, to know their families, to prepare themselves for a life where the Church will intrude in their affairs because they will have to live in a communion  – a living community of faith. The bishop visits seminarians’ families so that they too will gain a deeper understanding of the future life of their sons. 

How I wish many bishops imbibe this attitude also in their local churches.

Sharing with you some pictures of priests who belong to the Jesus-Caritas Fraternity. The meeting was a joint assembly of the Manila and Lipa fraternities.  Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, who brought the fraternity to the Philippines about 30 years ago, joined the whole day affair.  The fraternity meets for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, gospel reading and sharing, and fellowship.