CHRIST REIGNS!!!
We extend our prayers to the parishioners of:
+ST. JOSEPH CHURCH in SIOUX CITY during this time of loss of their worship space. May God continue to bless your community and your faith. May God's peace be with you.
+ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH in QUIMBY who closed their parish July 11. We open our hearts and arms in support and welcome!
+ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CHURCH in MAPLE RIVER who closed their parish October 4.
+ST. JOSEPH CHURCH in SIOUX CITY during this time of loss of their worship space. May God continue to bless your community and your faith. May God's peace be with you.
+ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH in QUIMBY who closed their parish July 11. We open our hearts and arms in support and welcome!
+ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CHURCH in MAPLE RIVER who closed their parish October 4.
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at 419 Jones Street, Moville, IA 51039-0802 US - A YEAR FOR PRIESTS
A YEAR FOR PRIESTS |
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A year to develop spiritual perfection
Pope Benedict XVI has declared the Church will observe a year for priests from June 19, 2009 to June 19, 2010.
The purpose of the jubilee year, the pontiff said in a March 16 speech, is simple, yet challenging: “To encourage priests in this striving for spiritual perfection on which, above all, the effectiveness of their ministry depends.”
“Striving for spiritual perfection.” Especially today, when the Church is facing a priestly shortage and priests must take on additional duties beyond ministering to their flocks, all Catholics must hold up their priests and those who are discerning the call to the priesthood in prayer and support the vital work they do. After all, as Pope Benedict pointed out, without the ministerial priesthood, “there would be neither the Eucharist, nor even the mission nor the Church herself.”
And while praying for our priests, including bishops and the pope himself, the lay faithful should remember that they are all called to participate with ordained leaders in joining themselves in the sacrifice of Christ, and that they, too, should embark on the quest for spiritual perfection.
How should you celebrate?
-Pray for priests
-Pray for vocations to the priesthood and Religious life
-Receive a plenary indulgence for Year of Priests
-Read about the vital role of priests in the life of the Church
-Read about priests who shaped our Church and the world
-Study the life of St. John Vianney, the Curé of Ars, who will be named patron saint of the world’s priests during the jubilee year
-Volunteer at your parish to lift some of the burden off your parish priest
-Invite your priest to dinner to thank him for all he has done for you and your family
A PRAYER FOR PRIESTS
Gracious and loving God, we thank you for the gift of our priests.
Through them, we experience your presence in the sacraments.
Help our priests to be strong in their vocation.
Set their souls on fire with love for your people.
Grant them the wisdom, understanding, and strength they need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
Inspire them with the vision of your Kingdom.
Give them the words they need to spread the Gospel.
Allow them to experience joy in their ministry.
Help them to become instruments of your divine grace.
We ask this through Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns as our Eternal Priest.
Amen.
Through them, we experience your presence in the sacraments.
Help our priests to be strong in their vocation.
Set their souls on fire with love for your people.
Grant them the wisdom, understanding, and strength they need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
Inspire them with the vision of your Kingdom.
Give them the words they need to spread the Gospel.
Allow them to experience joy in their ministry.
Help them to become instruments of your divine grace.
We ask this through Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns as our Eternal Priest.
Amen.
Pope Benedict XVI has declared a “Year for Priests” beginning with the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 19, 2009. The year will conclude in Rome with an international gathering of priests with the Holy Father on June 19, 2010. With the announcement of this Year for Priests, the Pope has declared St. John Vianney the Universal Patron of Priests on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the death of the Curé d’Ars. Please pray for our priests that they might always be faithful to their sacred calling.
YEAR FOR PRIESTS: COMPLETE IDENTIFICATION WITH CHRIST
During his general audience on June 24, held in St. Peter's Square, the Pope focused his remarks on the Year for Priests which he inaugurated last Friday, Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and day of prayer for the sanctification of the clergy, and which is intended to mark the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Mary Vianney. “Why a Year for Priests?” the Pope asked. “And why should it recall the holy 'Cure of Ars' who apparently did nothing out of the ordinary?” The Holy Father went on to explain how “Divine Providence ordained that the figure [of St. John May Vianney] should be associated with that of St. Paul” because, “although the two saints followed very different life paths, ... these exists nonetheless a fundamental factor that unites them: their total identification with their ministry, their communion with Christ."
“The aim of this Year for Priests,” he went on, “is to support each priest’s struggle towards spiritual perfection, ‘upon which the effectiveness of his ministry particularly depends,’ and to help priests, and with them the entire People of God, to rediscover and revive an awareness of the extraordinary and indispensable gift of Grace which the ordained ministry represents, for the person who receives it, for the entire Church, and for the world which would be lost without the real presence of Christ. Although the historical and social conditions in which the ‘Cure of Ars’ worked have changed, it is right to ask how priests can imitate him by identifying themselves with their ministry in modern globalised societies. In a world in which the common view of life leaves ever less space for the sacred, in place of which ‘functionality’ becomes the only decisive category, the Catholic concept of priesthood could risk losing its due regard, sometimes even in the ecclesial conscience.”
The Holy Father identified two conceptions of the priesthood, “which do not in fact contradict one another.” On the one hand “a social-functional conception which identifies the essence of priesthood with the concept of ‘service.’.... On the other hand there is a sacramental-ontological conception” which sees priestly ministry “as determined by a gift called Sacrament, granted by the Lord through the mediation of the Church.”
“What,” the Pope asked, “does it mean for priests to evangelise? In what does the primacy of announcement exist? ... Announcement coincides with the person of Christ,” he said, “a priest cannot consider himself as ‘master’ of the Word, but as its servant. Only participation in Christ’s sacrifice, ... and docile obedience to the Church ... makes announcement authentic.... Priests are Christ’s servants, in the sense that their existence, ontologically configured to Him, have an essentially relational character. The priest is in Christ, for Christ and with Christ at the service of humankind. Precisely because he belongs to Christ, the priest is radically at the service of man.”
Benedict XVI concluded by expressing the hope that “the Year for Priests may lead all the clergy to identify themselves completely with Christ Who died and rose again, so that, imitating St. John the Baptist, they may be ready ‘to diminish’ that He may grow; and that, following the example of the ‘Cure of Ars,’ they may be constantly and profoundly aware of their mission, which is both sign and presence of the infinite mercy of God.”
ST. JOHN BAPTIST VIANNEY (1786-1859)
The Curé of Ars, patron saint of parish priests.
Born at Dardilly, France, on May 8, 1786, Jean-Batiste Marie Vianney was a shepherd’s son. At the age of twenty, he began to study for the priesthood but was drafted into the army to fight in the Napoleonic Wars. Deserting, he returned home in 1810 and went to Lyons seminary in 1813.
John was ordained because of his goodness, despite the fact that he had great difficulties with his studies, especially Latin. Abbé Bailey, of Ecully, personally intervened on his behalf, and John was assigned to Ecully.
In 1818, he became the curé, as pastor of Ars. His mission there was conducted in the confessional, and toward the end of his life he spent sixteen to eighteen hours a day administering the sacrament of penance, or reconciliation, to the thousands who flocked to Ars.
He helped to found La Providence, a home for orphaned and abandoned children. John was gifted with discernment of spirits and read souls with ease, reclaiming thousands of lapsed Catholics. He also built a shrine to St. Philomena, a site that became a popular pilgrim destination.
For thirty years, he suffered diabolical attacks, and his fellow priests charged that he was too ignorant to be a curé. Refusing all honors offered to him, John died at Ars. He was canonized in 1925 and made patron of parish priests. Feast day: August 4.
About the Icon of Christ the Great High Priest
Iconographer Marek Czarnecki of Seraphic Restorations in Meriden, Connecticut, has graciously given the USCCB the rights to use the icon of Christ the Great High Priest during the Year for Priests.
This icon (egg tempera and gold leaf on wood panel, 28” x 22”) is “based on a fifteenth century Greek prototype; here Christ is shown in Latin Rite vestments with a gold pelican over His heart, the ancient symbol of self-sacrifice. The borders contain a windig grapevine and altar prepared for the celebration of the liturgy of the Mass; in the borders are smaller icons of Melchizedek and St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney.” Incidentally, it is St. John Vianney whom Pope Benedict XVI, with the announcement of this special year, has declared the Universal Patron of Priests.
Czarnecki explains: “I wrote the icon about seven years ago [for seminarians and priests] to be able to see Christ in themselves, and themselves in Christ. We often hear that the icon is called a window; in this case, it’s also meant to be a mirror.” The Good Shepherd reminds the priest that he is to “lay down his life for his sheep.” (www.seraphicrestorations.com)
Steps for the lay faithful to receive indulgences for the Year for Priests: On the first and last days of the Year for Priests, on the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Vianney, on the first Thursdays of the month, or on any other day established by your local ordinary:
-Attend Mass
-Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation
-Pray for priests
-Pray for the intentions of the Holy Father
August 4th we commemorated the 150th anniversary of the pious departure to Heaven of St John Mary Vianney, the Curé d'Ars. This Saint was a wonderful model here on earth of a true Pastor at the service of Christ's flock. His life is an example for all the faithful, especially priests, to imitate his virtues and strengthen our fidelity to Christ with devout meditation, spiritual exercises and other appropriate actions.
Beginning September 12, St. John Vianney will be visiting the Diocese of Sioux City. Three relics will be visiting all the parishes of the Diocese. Stay tuned for when St. John visits us!
Ways to Support Our Pastor
Pray for our pastor
Encourage others to do the same. You might consider designating a daily chore or activity as a sacrificial offering for our pastor. Or you might say a particular prayer every day for him. Let our pastor know that you are praying for him. He will appreciate your spiritual support. During difficult moments, he will know that your prayers are helping to sustain him.
Participate and Be Active
The best thing you can do for your priest is to come to Mass every weekend and get involved in our parish. Volunteer to help with whatever needs to be done. Attend parish events and support your parish financially.
By all means, if God has touched you or your family in some way because of something your priest has said or done, let him know what happened. When priests see how God is working through them, it reaffirms their calling and goes a long way toward encouraging them!
Keep your priest informed if you hear about a parishioner who is sick, injured, or going through some difficulty in life. Priests are often the last to hear about these things, and they can’t be everywhere at once. This will help your priest be where he needs to be to care for his parishioners most effectively.
Above all, keep your relationship with Jesus your top priority. Priests will come and go in your parish, and they will touch your life in many ways, but your faith must always be grounded in the Lord.
Watch Your Expectations
Sometimes, people have unrealistic expectations of what a priest “should be” or “should do.” They want Father to be present at every parish function, every community event, and every time someone has a question, concern or special need.
It’s important to remember that priests are people, too, with the same normal human limits. Just as you need a day or two off every week, so does your priest. In fact, studies have shown that time off is important for priests, to help them maintain both their spiritual focus and their energy levels. One priest recognized that after concerned parishioners insisted that he take a day off each week, he was actually able to accomplish more. We can all forget to take care of ourselves now and then; it doesn’t hurt to remind your priest to do so.
Accept your priest for the unique person he is. Priests come in all shapes, sizes, ages, and personality styles; introverts and extroverts; mile-mannered and quick-tempered; serious and witty. Each priest has his own preferences and peculiarities as well, so let him be himself, with his own gifts and talents. Each priest will minister in his own way. Trust God to work through your priest to meet the needs of the parish, and let him know that you support him. If you have the ability to make your priest laugh—do it! A good laugh goes a long way toward relieving any stress he may be feeling.
Be Prepared to Believe the Best.
A lot of what you hear on the parish grapevine is either untrue or is, at best, greatly exaggerated. Most people really want their priest to succeed in his ministry. But a few negative people can do a lot of damage — not just to the priest but to the entire parish.
Sometimes, negativity stems from misunderstandings. Often, people will make assumptions about something they hear a priest say, or see him do, that have no basis in reality. Keep in mind that Father might not be able to fully explain something he may have done because he is bound by confidentiality. Or he might appear to be distracted or distant, when he’s actually worried about something in the parish or exhausted after being up all night with a dying parishioner. Until you have all the facts, it’s best to give him the benefit of the doubt.
This applies doubly to how you talk about your priest, especially in front of your children. Gently confront parishioners who spread rumors, and make it clear that criticizing a priest behind his back never solves a problem. If there is a legitimate complaint, offer to go with them to talk with the priest.
When difficulties arise, do your priest the courtesy of making an appointment so you can talk about it with him in person, one-on-one. (It’s never wise to try to engage a priest in a serious discussion in the vestibule after Mass or in a place where other people are listening.) Be honest in conveying your feelings, but also be respectful. Pray that the Lord will guide you. If you can’t come to some resolution, you may need a mediator or a higher authority. In some cases, you may reach a point where you simply agree to disagree.
Do You Appreciate Your Priest?
Spanish Bishop Composes Test
PALENCIA, Spain, SEPT. 18, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The Year for Priests isn't just an internal celebration among the clergy, but rather an opportunity for all the faithful to assess their appreciation for the priesthood, says Bishop José Ignacio Munilla of Palencia.
"Do we appreciate the priesthood and love our priests?" the bishop asked in a posting on the Web site of his dioceses.
To answer this question, the bishop composed -- "with a bit of humor" -- the following test titled "Priestly Appreciation." The test is complete with instructions to evaluate your answers and your level of appreciation for the priesthood.
* * *
1. Have you prayed recently for your parish priest, your bishop or the Pope?
a. I don't even know their names.
b. At Mass there is usually prayer for them, and I add myself in that petition.
c. I do so every day in my personal prayer.
2. Have you disclosed your conscience to a priest, trusting that he can help you in your problems?
a. Each one has to solve his problems.
b. "Four eyes see more than two." It is always good to listen to and accept the advice of someone who can help us.
c. The greatest help I have received from a priest has been when his advice was joined to God's forgiveness in the sacrament of confession.
3. When I hear among my friends comments criticizing priests ...
a. I followed their lead, so as not to stand out.
b. I tuned out, and pretended to think of something else.
c. I said what I thought, giving witness to my faith.
4. I see in a priest ...
a. A "relic" of the past.
b. A "professional" of religion.
c. A minister of God; "another Christ" among us.
5. How many times have you invited the parish priest to your home?
a. The priest is only called when someone has died.
b. When grandmother is with us, he usually brings Communion.
c. Several times. I was delighted when he told us the story of his vocation at the dinner table.
6. When you hear a priest give a homily ...
a. I listen, if he has good oratorical skills.
b. I listen, I am interested in the topic he is addressing.
c. I see him as an instrument through which God is speaking to me.
7. When a collection is taken up for seminaries ...
a. I think, "Priests" are always begging.
b. I say to myself, there are collections for so many things! One more!
c. I collaborate gladly, because I believe no vocation should be frustrated because of lack of financial means.
8. When I see an elderly priest in the Church or on the street ...
a. I think the Church is on the decline.
b. I hope he says the Mass quickly.
c. I thank God for his fidelity and for all the good he might have done.
9. When I see a young priest at the altar ...
a. I mistrust his lack of experience. What is he going to say to me?
b. I observe what he does and "classify" him.
c. I thank God for his vocation and pray intensely for him.
10. How would you react if your son said he wants to be a priest?
a. I would ask him if he's gone mad, and I would remind him that we must take into consideration what others might think.
b. I would ask him to give it considerable thought and to have a university degree first.
c. It would give me one of the greatest joys of my life, and I would support him fully.
11. Have you asked a child, adolescent or young man about the possibility of being a priest some day?
a. I don't get into jams. Let everyone live his life.
b. I am of the opinion that all vocations must be appreciated, even if they are different from our own.
c. Yes, I have thought of someone specifically, and I pray for him ... One of these days, "I will let him know."
12. What do you think of the expression of the Saintly Curé d'Ars: "The priest is the love of Jesus' heart"?
a. I think it is a disembodied spiritualism.
b. I think that can only be said of a saintly priest.
c. I believe it is exactly so, though "they have this treasure in earthen vessels" (2 Corinthians 4:7).
* * *
Guide to evaluating the results:
If the letter "a" appears in the majority of your answers, I am surprised that this test reached your hands. But, I thank God that this happened so that I can tell you as the priest that I am, that God loves you the point of folly and that he expects from you an answer of love.
If you have responded to the majority of questions with the letter "b," I would like to tell you that you are not enjoying the treasures that God is offering you through the priesthood.
But if the letter "c" is yours, then I ask you not to cease to pray to God for the sanctification of priests and for the increase of priestly vocations, because I am very sure that God is going to listen to you.
[to be continued...]