Year of the Priest
Pope Benedict XVI knows that being a priest in contemporary cultures is not an easy task.
Actually, serving the Church as a shepherd of souls has never been a cakewalk. But in announcing March 16 that a Year of Priests will commence June 19, the Pope noted, “The awareness of the radical social changes over the past decades must stir the best ecclesial energies to look after the formation of priestly candidates.”
CNS reported that the Holy Father will inaugurate the special year for priest with a June 19 vespers service at the Vatican on the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus — the day for the sanctification of priests. It will conclude during a World Meeting of Priests in St. Peter’s Square on June 19, 2010.
As a model of the spiritual perfection priest should strive to attain in order to carry out their ministry, Benedict plans during the priestly year to declare St. John Vianney as the patron saint for all priests. The Curé of Ars is already regarded as the patron of all diocesan priests.
