If you feel called to say something nice about — or to — a priest, you'll soon have two days to do so in a special way.

Take your pick: Sunday, Sept. 21, is celebrated as World Priest Day by World Wide Marriage Encounter and its supporters, while Sunday, Oct. 26, has been dubbed Priesthood Sunday by the National Federation of Priests’ Councils.

In the Diocese of Knoxville, Tenn., members of World Wide Marriage Encounter are setting the standard for how their fellow Marriage Encounter members around the world — and anyone else who appreciates the priesthood — can mark the Sept. 21 occasion. Working in conjunction with other lay organizations, such as the Knights of Columbus, Daughters of America and the Council of Catholic Women, a number of couples will distribute a token of appreciation — a gift basket, letter or card including a spiritual bouquet — to every priest in the diocese, retired as well as active, to thank them for their selfless service to the Church.

John and Anne Wharton are the Knoxville coordinators for World Priest Day this year. With a team of other like-minded couples, they're putting together gift baskets that contain mugs, pens, stationery, snack mixes, candies, movie passes, camera film, candy bars wrapped with a “We Love Our Priest” label and other fun and useful items. On the 21st, the team will deliver the baskets to every active priest in the diocese. In the days before the event, cards and letters will be sent to all priests who are retired or have ever served the diocese. They're also organizing a 24-hour prayer vigil, assigning one hour of prayer for the priests in the diocese to one of 24 couples on that weekend.

“We really want our priests to know how much we love them and how grateful we are for what they have given us through the sacrament of holy orders,” says Anne. “World Priest Day began as an outreach of World Wide Marriage Encounter because we work so closely with our priests and have so much in common with them in terms of the kind of vows we take. But we're trying to get other groups involved and to spread the word because the priest-hood benefits all Catholics.”

Marriage Encounter coordinators are urging groups and individuals throughout the world to use their imagination in devising a way to honor their priest and the sacrament of holy orders. It can be something as simple as greeting your priest personally after Sunday Mass to sending a card or spiritual bouquet, says Anne. If you can, invite him to a sports event, movie or other form of public entertainment. If you or your priest tends to be shy, try sending a card with a short, personal note of appreciation and encouragement.

An anonymous gift left at the rectory will let your priest know that someone cares, even if he never finds out who that someone is. Getting the kids involved can be a real icebreaker, plus it can be a positive influence in fostering vocations. Anything that lets your priest know that you are thinking of him and feel he is an important aspect of your life is fair game.

In the past, parishioners around the country have given their priests batches of cookies wrapped in cellophane and tied with colorful ribbon, mugs, candy bars wrapped with pre-printed “We Love Our Priest” labels, and baskets filled with trinkets, fruit, nuts and candies. Families have picnicked with their priests, taken them out to dinner or invited them over to the house.

“Sometimes just spending time with your priest is the greatest gift of all,” says Janel Lange. She and her husband, Bob, are national coordinators of Marriage Encounter's World Priest Day this year. “I remember our priest once saying at the pulpit that it isn't fun having to eat alone all the time,” she says. “Something as simple as inviting him to the house for dinner could make your priest so happy. Work together on cooking the meal and get the kids involved. It could be a wonderful family atmosphere and give you all the opportunity to get to know your priest a little better and for him to get to know you.”

Father Jay Flaherty of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Knoxville received one of the gift baskets. He wasn't around at the time it was delivered but found it waiting for him when he returned to the rectory. “I was surprised and very pleased,” he recalls. “It's not too often that people say, ‘Thank you.’ It really made my day.”

“Our society has focused on the 60-second headlines that give negative press to the priesthood,” says Tony Morris. Tony and his wife, Sue, are members of Marriage Encounter and support World Priest Day in the Belleville, Ill., Diocese. “There are bad cops. There are bad politicians. And there are bad priests. But that doesn't make them all bad. So many of the good priests have been shunned because of the few bad ones and that just isn't right.”

‘Thank You, Father’

The National Federation of Priests' Councils, in conjunction with National Association for Lay Ministry, Serra International, Pastoral Summit, the Raskob Foundation and The Official Catholic Directory, is calling on parishes across the country to make Oct. 26 their Priesthood Sunday, a day to “celebrate the gifts of the priesthood in service to the Catholic community.”

The federation, whose member councils represent most of the country's 44,000 priests, has established a Web site — www.priest sunday.org — to provide ideas for liturgies, social celebrations and other events for the day.

For more information about World Priest Day, browse wpd.wwme.org.

Whether you pick Sept. 21, Oct. 26 or a date of your own choosing, there's never been a better time to go a little out of your way to tell a priest how much he means to you.

Marge Fenelon writes from Cudahy, Wisconsin.