Priesthood Sunday

By Sam Lucero
News and Information Manager

This Sunday, U.S. Catholics will observe Priesthood Sunday. It is a time to give thanks and recognition to the men who have answered the call to a life of service, sacrifice, celibacy and holiness.

Priesthood Sunday began several years ago by the USA Council of Serra International, an organization whose goal is to foster and affirm vocations to the priesthood and religious life. It is held the last Sunday in October, and coincides with another day of recognition for priests: World Priest Day, sponsored by Worldwide Marriage Encounter.

According to the Serra Club, Priesthood Sunday "is a special day set aside to honor priesthood in the United States. It is a day to reflect upon and affirm the role of the priesthood in the life of the church as a central one."

Those of us who meet and work with priests outside of Sunday Mass, know the energy, devotion and dedication these men bring to their ordained ministry. We know also that the work of a priest does not begin or end at a certain hour. While the collar may come off after celebrating Mass, hearing confession, or presiding at a wedding, baptism or funeral, the commitment to serve does not end.

When Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan was serving as rector of the North American College in Rome from 1994 to 1999, he presented talks to U.S. seminarians studying there. These talks were later edited and published as a book titled, "Priests for the Third Millennium."

According to Archbishop Dolan, "The priesthood is a call, not a career; a redefinition of self, not just a new ministry; a way of life, not a job; a state of being, not just a function; a permanent, lifelong commitment, not a temporary style of service; an identity, not just a role."

When you think of the priests who have had an impact on your life, what qualities did they possess? Were they friendly? Compassionate? Forgiving? Stern? Prayerful? Entertaining? Intelligent?

In "Priests for the Third Millennium," Archbishop Dolan wrote about other gifts a man must bring to holy orders.

"Often have I asked what the church, the world, expects of priests, and I have answered my own question by responding, 'Holinesss,'" wrote Archbishop Dolan. "True enough! A very close second, and certainly related, is integrity. The church, our people, and, yes, even the world, long for priests who are men of integrity.

"And what does that mean? Integrity is one of those traits rather tough to define but very easy to recognize," he continued. "A man of integrity is a man of honesty, without guile, a genuine, authentic man, whose interior convictions are externally evident, who outwardly shows in word and deed that he is what he claims to be: a man of sincerity, truth, principle, character and reliability, whose word can be trusted, and who inspires respect in others."

In an effort to help parishes recognize their priests, the Serra Club has issued a list of ideas. These suggestions, along with special intercessions that can be recited at Mass, are available on the Web at www.priestsunday.org.

Suggestions for celebrating Priesthood Sunday include:

• A parish potluck dinner;
• A coffee and doughnut reception following Masses;
• A school essay, poster or poetry contest;
• Erecting a Priesthood Sunday banner in front of church.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter also offers suggestions for honoring priests. Among the ideas, also available online at www.worldpriestday.org, are:

• Sending a card to your parish priest or bishop, telling him what his sacrament and/or friendship means to you;
• Inviting a priest or bishop to breakfast, lunch or dinner;
• Sending him flowers, a balloon bouquet or baking him cookies;
• Have your children color him a picture or write him a letter.

Perhaps the easiest and most direct way is to approach your pastor after Mass, shake his hand and say "Thank you."