‘A priest is not a priest for himself but for you’ (Curé of Ars)

Working Together for Good in His Name  
Bishop Curtis J. Guillory, SVD  

  At Vespers on June 19, the feast of the Sacred Heart, our Holy Father inaugurated the “Year for Priests.” This year is also the 150th anniversary of St. John Vianney, the patron saint of priests.

In his homily the Holy Father said he wished that all priests, with the prayers and support of the laity, would reinvigorate their commitment to Christ and grow more intimately with him. The Holy Father used the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus because priests are ordained to share the love of Jesus which emanates from Christ’s heart.

The Holy Father put it this way:
“In order to be ministers at the service of the Gospel, study and careful, ongoing pastoral and theological formation are useful and necessary, but even more necessary is that ‘knowledge of love’ which can only be learned in a ‘heart to heart’ encounter with Christ.”

Much time is spent by priests developing pastoral skills. However, this year should be spent more in prayer, adoration, and reflection on the love of Jesus which priests are called to make present and to share with their parishioners and those under their care. Because of the busyness of pastoral ministry, the foundation can be neglected. The more intimate the priest is with Jesus the more effective will be his ministry.

St. John Vianney explained well the importance of priesthood: “Without the sacrament of Holy Orders, we would not have the Lord. Who put him there in the tabernacle? The priest. Who feeds your soul and gives it the strength for the journey? The priest. Who will prepare it to appear before God? The priest.”

To carry out his duties, St. John Vianney visited the sick and their families, organized missions, collected and managed funds for charitable and missionary work. He truly exemplified that a priest is for the people entrusted to him.

All of you have been touched and guided by our priests. They preach the Word and celebrate the sacraments, sometimes under difficult circumstances, such as poor health or lack of resources for ministry. But they are there. They minister to you in health and in sickness, in good times and in bad, and they witness by their lives that they are priests for you.

This “Year for Priests” will also be a graced moment for all of us to promote vocations to the priesthood and religious life. It is a proven fact that vocations come from young men and women who are inspired and encouraged by their parish priest, by their parents, and by living in a home of prayer and service.

During this “Year for Priests” I have scheduled several events to focus on this special year, and I am asking the entire diocese to participate. For the first event Tuesday, Aug. 25, I will celebrate a diocesan Mass opening the “Year for Priests” throughout our diocese. The Mass will be celebrated at St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Nederland, at 6:30 p.m., followed by a reception. This will give us an opportunity to express our solidarity with our priests as they strive to grow more intimately with Jesus, as well to express our gratitude to them for being priests for us.

At the second event Tuesday, Sept. 15, I will celebrate a Holy Hour with my brother priests, followed by a dinner with them. [Although this event is for priests only, everyone throughout the diocese can be united this day in prayer for their priests.]

St. John Vianney taught his people how to pray through adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and by making frequent visits. He said, “We know Jesus is there in the tabernacle; let us open our hearts to him. Let us rejoice in his sacred presence.”

The third event will be on Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica. This will be a liturgy for the entire diocese to remember our deceased priests who have ministered to us and who are now with God in heaven.

Another major event will be on Tuesday, March 30, 2010, at 6:30 p.m. at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, when we will celebrate the Chrism Mass. At this Mass I will bless the oils that are used in the sacraments, and the priests will renew their priestly commitment.

These are the main diocese-wide activities.

You will find these and other scheduled events on our diocesan website (www.dioceseofbmt.org) by clicking on the homepage link, “Year for Priests.”

I am asking you as parishioners to begin planning your own activities in your parish. In addition to praying for your pastor, you might consider sending him a letter of appreciation or honoring him in a special way on his priesthood ordination anniversary. More suggestions will be forthcoming.

I am also asking our diocesan offices to highlight the “Year for Priests” in their activities and programs.

By celebrating this “Year for Priests,” all of us will be spiritually enriched because our priests will be more effective with an affective heart in being a priest for us.