YEAR FOR PRIESTS

The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has called a special 'Year for Priests' which will run from 19 June 2009 to 19 June 2010". This year marks "the 150th anniversary of the death of the saintly 'Cure of Ars', Jean Marie Vianney, a true example of a pastor at the service of Christ's flock.

�I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths. As for you, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry� (2 Timothy 4:1-5).

Events

International Priests' Retreat in Ars, France sponsored by the Congregation for Clergy: September 27 to October 3, 2009. More information

International gathering of Priests with the with the Holy Father in St. Peter's Square on June 19, 2010. More information

Massive Spiritual Bouquet Being Prepared for the "Year for Priests"
Priests for Life

Links

Vatican - Congregation for the Clergy website dedicated to The Year for Priests

USCCB- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website dedicated to Year for Priests

The Catholic University of America (CUA) has website in honor of the �Year for Priests,� to encourage a deepening of the spiritual life of those called to priestly ministry. The new website features multimedia slideshows about priests who have graduated from The Catholic University of America. Additionally, CUA will host a two-day symposium later this year titled, �Ministerial Priesthood in the Third Millennium: �Faithfulness of Christ, Faithfulness of Priests.� View the website for more details: http://yearforpriests.cua.edu/.

Articles

Year for Priests not just for clerics, James Cavanagh, Denver Catholic Register, (June 17, 2009)

Priests for the Kingdom, Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer

Cur� d'Ars: Model Priest, Karna Swanson

Homily on the memory of Saint John Marie Vianney, Rev. Anthony Mellace

Off Site Articles

St. John Vianney's Pastoral Plan, by Fr. John Cihak, S.T.D.

Who Is A Priest? Fr. Benedict Ashley, O.P.
The Priest as Man, Husband, and Father, Fr. John Cihak
Women and the Priesthood: A Theological Reflection, Jean Galot, S.J.
The Real Reason for the Vocation Crisis, Rev. Michael P. Orsi
Pray the Harvest Master Sends Laborers, Rev. Anthony Zimmerman
Priestly Vocations in America: A Look At the Numbers, Jeff Ziegler
Clerical Celibacy: Concept and Method, Alfons Maria Cardinal Stickler

The Religion of Jesus, Blessed Columba Marmion

News Articles

Priests Must Tend Constantly Towards Sanctity, 20 JUN 2009 (VIS)
Year For Priests: Complete Identification with Christ, 24 JUN 2009 (VIS)

Clergy confraternity to observe Year for Priests with Rome convocation 24 Jun 2009 (CNA)

Click on picture for biography

St. John Vianney, pictured in a stained-glass window, is widely known to Catholics as the Cure d'Ars who won over the hearts of his villagers in France by visiting with them, teaching them about God and reconciling people to the Lord in the confessional. Pope Benedict XVI is to declare the saint as patron of all priests during the jubilee year for priests, which begins June 19. At present St. John Vianney is considered the patron saint of parish priests. His feast day is Aug. 1.