Special Year Dedicated for Priests

SPECIAL YEAR DEDICATED FOR PRIESTS
PROCLAIMED BY POPE BENEDICT XVI

Monsignor J. Robert Romero

On March 16, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI announced that he will proclaim a special Year for Priests beginning on June 19, 2009 to June 19, 2010. The theme of this Year for Priests is Faithfulness of Christ, faithfulness of priests.”

There are a few events coming together. We celebrate the 150th anniversary of the death of the saintly Cure’ of Ars, St. John Mary Vianney. We celebrate on June 19, 2009, the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests. We celebrate a special Year for Priests.

While we all have a participation in the common priesthood of the faithful by reception of the Sacraments of Christian Initiation [Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist], the ministerial priesthood is the focus of the Year for Priests. We strive to deepen our knowledge of Christ’s intention when He instituted the Ordained Priesthood at the Last Supper. This deeper knowledge is meant for the priest to rediscover and grow with more intensity in his life. The whole church is called to understand and appreciate the need for ministerial priesthood. Without the Ministerial Priest, there is no Eucharist, no church.

The Holy Father points out four dimensions. These are ecclesial, communional, hierarchical, and doctrinal. However, I can best summarize by stating what I ask the first Communion students. “ When I pray the words “this is my body”, “this is my blood” at Mass, why is it Jesus’ Body and Blood?” Why is it not Msgr. Romero’s body and blood?” The answer is that I stand in the place of Jesus Christ at the altar. It is Jesus Christ’s Body and Blood, because there is one priest, Jesus Christ himself. I take his place because I am ordained and set aside in the church to be in the place of Christ as Head of the Church. This is a new life, a new way of life that is special to the ministerial priest. This is an aspect the priests of the church are called by, Pope Benedict, to make more intensely their own. It is the life of Jesus Christ in his love for the church. It is the church’s, that is those in the common priesthood of the faithful, to appreciate in the ministerial priest at the altar, Christ’s love for the church and the church’s love for Christ.

In addition, Pope Benedict XVI will name St. John Vianney patron of all priests, not just patron of diocesan priests. St. John Vianney lived the theme for the Year for Priests. That theme is “Faithfulness of Christ, faithfulness of priests”. In his own person, the church sees in St. John Vianney the faithfulness of Christ. In his own person, the church sees in St. John Vianney the faithfulness of priests to Christ and to Church. St. John Vianney’s ministry is filled with a dedication and love for Christ and for everyone to love Christ themselves. Pope Benedict XVI then hopes the whole church will be more dedicated to Christ in every parishioner’s life as the priests of the church strive to intensify their life with Jesus Christ and as parishioners see the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the life of every ordained priest.

At St. Landry Church, on the side where Mary’s altar is, we have a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to the left of Mary’s altar as we view the altar from the pews. We also have a statue of St. John Vianney on the wall to the right of Mary’s altar as we view the altar from the pews. You may notice that we may turn the statue of St. John Vianney facing the congregation. We also will try to highlight the statue of St. John Vianney during the Year for Priests.