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Priest Stories:
Read stories about some of America's other outstanding priests. > CLICK HERE
PRIEST HEROES
Our pastor, for the past 14 years, Fr. Nicholas Zukowski, celebrated his 25th Jubilee this past May. As a loving and gentle shepherd to this faith community of over 3600 families, at St. Mary Queen of Creation in New Baltimore, Michigan, he also finds time to work with other denominations to strengthen ecumenical efforts. As the only full time priest, his availability to minister to those in need is outstanding! His prayerful liturgies, inspiring homilies, guidance and leadership during very tragic events has won him the gratitude of many. ...more priest hero stories
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Cleveland Plain Dealer Stories
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PS Quotes
Why Priesthood Sunday Is Important
The reasons for this celebration (of Priesthood Sunday) should be obvious. The number of priests per Catholic has declined over the past 40 years. This makes it more difficult for individual parishioners to establish a close relationship with any one particular priest. When I was growing up, our pastor served in our parish for 34 years. My mom and dad knew him well. His presence and service were significant factors in the story of my own vocation. Furthermore, priests are no longer the only ones who offer pastoral care to our people. Yet without a priest, no parish is able to be a Eucharistic community. It is important to reaffirm the importance of the priesthood of Jesus Christ and its central place in the life of our Church.
-ARCHBISHOP JOHN G. VLAZNY, Archdiocese of Portland
On This Special Day...
Please join me on this special day, Priesthood Sunday, in praying for our priests, in praising God for their courage and their generosity. As your bishop I urge you to make your appreciation for your parish priest known. A simple note, a smile or a phone call to assure him of your loving care and gratitude for his presence in the life of your local church will go a long way to serve the greater good of our wonderful and growing Catholic Church.
-BISHOP JOSEPH GOSSMAN, Diocese of Raleigh
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Eucharistic Adoration for Vocations to Ordained Ministry and Consecrated Life
 His Holiness John Paul II blessed this monstrance for the Church in North America so that during the Year of the Eucharist we all might pray for vocations to ordained ministry and consecrated life. In cooperation with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat for Vocations and Priestly Formation, the USA Council of Serra International is coordinating and sponsoring the tour of this Monstrance to US Catholic dioceses throughout the Year of Eucharist and beyond. Tour Schedule (as of September 2008) through March 31, 2009
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The Fishers of Men program is designed to encourage priests to step back from their daily lives and reflect on the many positive reasons they pursued their vocations, to discuss those reasons with their brother priests, parish families and ultimately to share those reasons with other men with an invitation to the priesthood.
Read more here...
Go to the Fishers of Men page here...
"Fishers of Men" Trailer
RealPlayer | Windows Media Player
Share Celebration Ideas
From
the
Serra
Club
of
North-Minneapolis...
LOOKING
FOR
A
WAY
TO
CELEBRATE
PRIESTHOOD
SUNDAY?
Sometimes
priests
are
not
comfortable
with
calling
attention
to
themselves
even
though
October
28th
is
not
to
call
attention
to
themselves
but
to
call
attention
to
the
Priesthood.
(This
is
more
apt
to
happen
when
there
is a
lone
priest
in
the
parish
than
when
there
are
two
or
more
priests
who
would
share
the
celebration.)
If
that’s
the
case,
permission
is
not
always
granted
to
put
up
the
“Priesthood
Sunday”
posters
or
insert
bulletin
announcements.
It’s
then
we
have
to
use
a
little
ingenuity
to
say
thanks
and
let
our
priests
know
we
are
praying
for
them
and
sincerely
appreciate
them.
How
we
did
it.
Last
year
a
prayer
was
composed
for
one
side
of a
“bookmark”
sized
card
and
the
other
side
listed
all
the
pastors,
assistants
and
deacons
to
remember
in
prayer.
These
cards
were
placed
in
the
pews,
in
the
Adoration
Chapels
and
in
the
church
pamphlet
racks.
Individuals
were
also
invited
to
send
personal
greeting
cards.
It
worked
out
well.
Extra
cards
remained
in
the
Chapels
and
pamphlet
racks
all
year.
This
year,
using
the
same
idea
but
with
a
different
color,
we’ve
chosen
to
use
a
quotation
from
St.
John
Vianney
on
one
side
and
repeat
the
priests
who’ve
served
the
parish
on
the
other.
Of
course,
the
Serra
logo
is
prominently
displayed
on
both
sides
of
the
card.
The
format
is
simple.
It’s
just
a
81/2
X 11
sheet
printed
on
the
horizontal
using
four
columns
and
then
printing
on a
substantial
weight
of
paper
to
provide
“bookmark”
quality
cards.
Printed
on
both
sides,
your
print
shop
will
be
happy
to
cut
them
into
bookmarks
for
you.
Click
here
for
an
example.
Subject: Priesthood Sunday
Dear Father,
This will be our third annual celebration of PRIESTHOOD SUNDAY. We have added four other parishes in our district to celebrate the day also. Our celebration will include our two past pastors to be with us for the liturgies followed by a Fall Dessert Brunch, THE FRUITS OF THE HARVEST.
A special banner announcing that this is PRIESTHOOD SUNDAY with the logo on it will be carried in procession . Families with young children will carry the banner. Hopefully , the awareness for the need of vocations, especially to the priesthood will be impressed on the younger generation. This same idea is carried through with the carrying up of the gifts at the offertory.
Ready made cards for anyone who wishes to make PRAYER PROMISES ( SPIRITUAL BOUQUETS ) AND MESSAGES will be available for the parishioners to fill out and be given to our present and past pastors.
We certainly appreciated the idea to have parishioners give their blessing to our priests after each Mass and will continue to do it again this year.
Peace,
Bea Willing and the Vocation Team members of
St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Racine
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A Wonderful Celebration:
Dear Father,
Last October our parish, St. Paul the Apostle, Racine, Wisconsin, celebrated Priesthood Sunday. This was such a wonderful celebration and our vocation team that was responsible for organizing it received many positive responses.
READ MORE...
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A changing way of life for priests:
On the one hand, the core role of the priest is clear and never-changing. On the other, there has been a dramatic change in what priests do and in the presence of priests within the Catholic Church in the United States.
READ MORE...
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