Quotations

“This responsibility cannot be carried out by solitary "vocations scapegoats," to use the terminology of "In Verbo Tuo." If vocation is for all, then all must be involved in mediating the call of Christ”

(Father Kevin Doran, National Coordinator of Diocesan Vocation Directors, 2000-2006)


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General Resources

priesthood_sunday_logoThere are many ways to celebrate Priesthood Sunday with the whole parish. Here are some ideas:

  • Parish 'bring something' dinner to celebrate "Father's Day"
  • "Coffee & cake" reception following Masses
  • School essay or poetry contest
  • Create a banner for in front of church using graphics provided in our media section
  • Place an 'Ad' in local/diocesan paper along with short story about priest(s)
  • Photo on cover of parish bulletin along with biography
  • Publicity in community paper about parish celebration of "Priesthood Sunday"

 

Copy, customize and then print this parish press release (PDF) or this press release (WORD) to promote your Priesthood Sunday celebration with local media.

 

Celebration planning:

  1. Form a celebration committee.
  2. Select dates for the committee to meet.
  3. What parish groups would like to participate?
  4. Select a date for the celebration.

 

CATHOLIC SINGER'S SONG ECHOES SENTIMENT OF "Priesthood Sunday."

They have called on churches all over "to celebrate the gifts of Priesthood in service to the Catholic community." This special day is a wake-up call for parishioners to honour Christ as Priest and the men who are called to be his priests on earth.  As Father Benedict Groeschel C.F.R. has pointed out, less than 1% of our Catholic priests have been involved in any scandal, yet our good faithful priests have had to “shoulder the blame” for the few... Click here to read more...

 

 

LOOKING FOR A WAY TO CELEBRATE PRIESTHOOD SUNDAY?

Sometimes priests are not comfortable with calling attention to themselves even though September 28th is not to call attention to themselves but to call attention to the Priesthood. (This is more apt to happen when there is a lone priest in the parish than when there are two or more priests who would share the celebration.)

If that’s the case, permission is not always granted to put up the “Priesthood Sunday” posters or insert bulletin announcements. It’s then we have to use a little ingenuity to say thanks and let our priests know we are praying for them and sincerely appreciate them.

How we did it.(From the Serra Club of North-Minneapolis...)
Last year a prayer was composed for one side of a “bookmark” sized card and the other side listed all the pastors, assistants and deacons to remember in prayer. These cards were placed in the pews, in the Adoration Chapels and in the church pamphlet racks. Individuals were also invited to send personal greeting cards. It worked out well. Extra cards remained in the Chapels and pamphlet racks all year.

This year, using the same idea but with a different color, we’ve chosen to use a quotation from St. John Vianney on one side and repeat the priests who’ve served the parish on the other. Of course, the Serra logo is prominently displayed on both sides of the card.

The format is simple. It’s just a 81/2 X 11 sheet printed on the horizontal using four columns and then printing on a substantial weight of paper to provide “bookmark” quality cards. Printed on both sides, your print shop will be happy to cut them into bookmarks for you. Click here for an example.

This will be our third annual celebration of PRIESTHOOD SUNDAY. We have added four other parishes in our district to celebrate the day also. Our celebration will include our two past pastors to be with us for the liturgies followed by a Fall Dessert Brunch, THE FRUITS OF THE HARVEST.

A special banner announcing that this is PRIESTHOOD SUNDAY with the logo on it  will be carried in procession . Families with young children will carry the banner. Hopefully , the awareness for the need of vocations, especially to the priesthood will be impressed on the younger generation. This same idea is carried through with the carrying up of the gifts at the offertory.

Ready made cards for anyone who wishes to make PRAYER PROMISES (SPIRITUAL BOUQUETS) AND MESSAGES will be available for the parishioners to fill out and be given to our present and past pastors.

We certainly appreciated the idea to have parishioners give their blessing to our priests after each Mass and will continue to do it again this year.  Peace,

(Bea Willing and the Vocation Team members of  St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Racine, USA)
 
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