Priesthood Sunday
- What
- Priesthood Sunday
- When
- 10/26/2014
This coming Sunday, October 26, 2014, has been designated Priesthood Sunday by the people at Serra International, a lay Catholic organization founded under the patronage of Blessed Junipero Serra to support and pray for priests and consecrated religious. What that means is that for one Sunday, the Serra organization is asking us to spend some time showing some appreciation for the men who have answered the call to serve all of us who are under their care.
One might be surprised at just how much priests have been charged with upon their ordination. Apart from the things we all know about, that they they make a promise of chastity and obedience to the bishop, the priest also takes on the care of all the souls that live within the limits of the parish to which he has been assigned. That means that no matter who or when, the priest is called to be there for any person within his parish is in need. There are days when priests are asked to celebrate a baptism, a wedding and a funeral all in the same day and they must be able to celebrate with each of the families in the way expected of them. Additionally, they are asked to be the CEO of a business and keep it solvent with the help of good staff. They are supported so many times by the prayers they promise to pray 5 times a day and, unfortunately, sometimes they are supported only by those prayers.
So, for one Sunday, this coming Sunday or any other let us together show our pastors that they truly do mean so much to us. Here are a couple of easy suggestions on how to do that:
- shake your pastor’s hand as you leave Mass and say, “Thank you for being our pastor, we really appreciate it.”
- Go out before Sunday and get a card that says, “Thank you.” Add your own personal message and hand it to your pastor after Mass.
- Gather some prayer promises from your family members and write them all down. Hand them to your pastor after Mass or mail it to the pastor for him to open at the office and be encouraged by your prayers that day.
- Invite your pastor to join you for brunch after Mass or for lunch or dinner on another day.
- Purchase a small gift card that can pay for a couple gallons of gas, a coffee, some ice cream, or maybe even something from the iTunes store
- If you have children in your home, despite any personal preference for a priest with a different personality, talk positively about your pastor’s care for you and say some prayers on his behalf.
For more ways to celebrate this Sunday, please check out other ideas here, and here.