Priesthood Sunday is a special day set aside to honor priesthood in the United States.

It is a day to reflect upon and affirm the role of the priesthood in the life of the Church as a central one. This nationwide event celebrated on the last Sunday of September is coordinated and sponsored by the US Council of Serra International. Catholics are invited to observe other events, such as World Day of Prayer for Vocations and World Day for Consecrated Life, National Vocation Awareness Week and National Catholic Sisters Week. Priesthood Sunday, however, specifically honors priests, without whom the Mass could not be offered and Sacraments could not be celebrated.

It is essential to note that the number of priests and ordinations in the United States has steadily declined in the past 50 years. Meanwhile, the number of parishes without a resident priest pastor has sharply increased in the same period of time. The men who answer the call to priesthood are special indeed, and they are working harder than ever before.

Excerpt: serraus.org/priesthood-sunday

Saint John Marie-Baptiste Vianney Patron Saint of Parish Priests

May 8, 1786 – August 4, 1859

On May 8, 1786 in a small village near Lyon, France, a poor peasant family celebrated the birth of their fourth child, John Marie-Baptiste Vianney. During this time, because of the violence of the French Revolution and the outlawing of Mass, John’s family was forced to attend secret Masses celebrated in local farmers’ barns. Inspired by the brave priests who put their lives in danger every time they celebrated Mass, young John Vianney wished nothing else than to become a parish priest.

Due to the lack of a formal early education, John struggled with his seminary studies. Because of his poor grades, his bishop had reservations about ordaining John to the priesthood. After some delay and because of John’s refusal to give up, Father John Vianney was finally ordained to the priesthood in 1815 at the age of twenty-nine. His bishop cautiously sent him to a small and out-of-the-way village of Ars-en-Dombes where he thought Father Vianney would cause the least amount of harm.

Once he got to his small church in Ars, Father Vianney threw himself completely into his parish ministry. It did not take too long for the people of Ars to become inspired by Father John’s great faith and his dedicated pastoral care. Word of this priest’s spiritual insights and sensitivity began to spread outside of Ars. Soon people from all over France began to travel to see him. Each day hundreds of people would wait in long lines to have Father John hear their confessions and to receive this unassuming pastor’s spiritual advice and encouragement. He remained in Ars until his death at the age of 73 at which time he was held as the most beloved person in all of France.

Saint John Vianney was canonized in 1925 by Pope Pius X and declared the Patron Saint of Parish Priests. Today, he remains a source of spiritual strength and encouragement for priests, religious, and all the faithful.

Source: www.sjvcenter.org/about/saint-john-vianney/.

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