Links for the Year of the Priest

This post will be updated throughout the Year of the Priest. More resources will be added as I find them.

Pope Benedict XVI has declared June 19, 2009-2010 as Year of the Priest on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the death of St. Jean Marie Vianney, the Curé of Ars.

This special year will open with vespers at the Vatican on the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, June 19, 2009. This is a day for the sanctification of priests. The year will close at a World Meeting of Priests in St. Peter’s Square on June 19, 2010.

Plenary Indulgence Offered for Year for Priests, Zenit

Year for Priests blog, dedicated to faithful priests who devote their lives generously to the service of the people of God.

Vianney, a one-man stage production on the life of St. John Vianney.

Roman Catholic Vocations

A Tribute to Our Priests, my good friend Easter’s response to God’s call to support our priests and those studying to become one.

Prayers for Priests, Women for Faith & Family

For Priests and the Priesthood, Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church

Year for Priests, USCCB. Some of the highlights include:

• Rosary booklet for the Year for Priests
• A Priest’s Prayer
• Peoples’ Prayer for Priests
• Meet or New Priests – Ordination Class of 2009

………………… added June 4, 2009

Cure of Ars Prayer Group will kick off the Year of the Priest with 40 days of praying and fasting, from June 19 – August 4.

………………… added June 8, 2009

A Catholic Mom in Hawaii has started a list of priests she will be praying for specifically during the Year of the Priest. If you are a priest and would like to be added to the list, contact Esther.

Priests in Crisis blog, by my twitter pal Suzanne, is a gateway to emergency resources for faithful Catholic priests in personal crisis.

Prayers for Priests lists 100 prayers for all priests in the world.

Congregations for the Clergy — The Holy See is a great source of info on the Year of the Priest. Some highlights include:

• Year for Priests logo, when printed, makes an excellent coloring page.
• Pray for Priests is a project to promote Eucharistic Adoration and Spiritual Maternity to support the priests of the world.
• Biblia Clerus offers Sacred Scripture, its interpretation in light of Sacred Tradition and the teachings of the Magisterium, with appropriate theological commentary and exegesis.

A Prayer for Priests
by John Joseph Cardinal Carberry, Archbishop of St. Louis, USA

O Jesus, our great High Priest, hear my humble prayers on behalf of your priests.
Give them a deep faith, a bright and firm hope, and a burning love which will ever increase in the course of their priestly life.
In their loneliness, comfort them.
In their sorrows, strengthen them.
In their frustrations, point out to them that it is through suffering that the soul is purified and show them that they are needed by the Church;
they are needed by souls;
they are needed for the work of redemption.

O lovely Mother Mary, Mother of Priests, take to your heart your sons who are close to you because of their priestly ordination and because of the power which they have recieved to carry on the work of Christ in a world which needs them so much.

Be their comfort;
be their joy;
be their strength;
and especially help them to live and defend the ideals of consecrated celibacy.

………………… added June 9, 2009

Our Sunday Visitor wants to help you celebrate this jubilee year:

• Prayers for priests
• Resource links
• Vocation links and opportunities
• Info on St. John Baptist Vianney
• Year for Priests interactive crossword puzzle
• and more coming!

………………… added June 17, 2009

In commemoration of the upcoming Year of the Priesthood, The Word Among Us Press is planning to publish a book of stories written by priests active in all types of ministries in the church.

………………… added June 19, 2009

Letter of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI proclaiming a Year for Priests on the 150th Anniversary of the death of Saint John Vianney, the Curé of Ars.

World Day of Prayer for Priests is produced by a group of committed Catholic Communication /Advertising laypeople to serve as a gateway to a deeper understanding of the priesthood of Christ as exercised by our priests, a priesthood in which, by virtue of our baptism, we all share. The site features prayers for priests, a children’s section, and even e-cards to send to your favorite priests.

CatholicMom.com columnist, Genevieve Kineke, has a great article on Year of the Priest – A Year of Grace.

Priest. More resources will be added as I find them.

………………… added June 25, 2009

If you are a facebook user, run a search and become a fan of Year of the Priest: We are praying for our priests.

The Priest Is a Slave of Christ — address given by Pope Benedict XVI on June 24, 2009 during the general audience in St. Peter’s Square.

The Vatican has posted a Year for Priests page containing all the homilies and addresses given by Benedict XVI, and Papal and Church documents relating to the priesthood.

………………… added June 27, 2009

Two excellent blog posts from my friend Esther, A Catholic Mom in Hawaii:

• YEAR FOR PRIESTS – What Can We Do for Year of the Priests?
• Short Talk on Spiritual Moms Apostolate

………………… added June 28, 2009

ZENIT has launched a new column dedicated to the priesthood titled “God’s Men.” The first column begins with a look at the exemplary life and writings of St. John Mary Vianney, the patron of parish priests: “Curé d’Ars: Model Priest.”

………………… added July 7, 2009

The Year of the Priest and Our Future “In Vestments” — An important reminder from Cassandra Poppe on the huge role parents play in helping their children discern whether they are being called to the religious life/priesthood.

Illumniated Ink is holding A Year for Priests coloring contest. All entries must be postmarked by Saturday, May 15, 2010 to be eligible.

………………… added July 22, 2009

Catholic Culture presents an overview of the Year for Priests.

Learn all about the Saints who were priests.

Numerous essays and articles from the archives of Father John A. Hardon, S.J..

………………… added August 2, 2009

What Can I Do For the Year of the Priest? from Vultus Christi

Spiritual Mothers of Priests was created in response to Pope Benedict’s institution of the Year of the Priest and aims to spread knowledge of the vocation of a spiritual mother and to encourage women to consider embracing it.

………………… added August 17, 2009

Pope Benedict plans grand finale for Year for Priests, June 9-11, 2010 in Rome.

………………… added August 21, 2009

An article in two parts by Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of The Diocese of:

Year for Priests: St. John Vianney Part 1 — The devil’s attacks Part 2

………………… added September 2, 2009

Beginning September 4, 2009, on the First Friday of each month at 3 p.m., EWTN will air a monthly Holy Hour in honor of the Year for Priests.

………………… added September 19, 2009

Do You Appreciate Your Priest? Spanish Bishop José Ignacio Munilla of Palencia composes Priestly Appreciation test.

………………… added October 2, 2009

a vocation to become a priest? is designed and run by teens who are seriously considering becoming Catholic priests.

………………… added October 13, 2009

Intercessories Family Ministry has a newsletter dedicated to The Year of the Priest: Ways to celebrate with your family and the church!

………………… added November 29, 2009

Pray4aPriest encourages us to to focus on the power of prayer, and pray for A priest, whomever he might be. They also offer a free prayer kit which consisits of a two-tone wristband, a Good Shepherd prayer card, and a Promise of Prayer card/envelope.

………………… added January 6, 2010

Rosary for the Bishop is a project that aims to support Catholic Bishops through prayer of the Rosary.

Do you have a story about how a priest has helped you grow in your faith? Challenged you in some way? Strengthened your faith? St. Anthony Messenger magazine will publish an article based on your submitted stories.

………………… added January 20, 2010

Magnificat Year for Priests Companion includes prayers, devotions, meditations, and essays celebrating the priesthood; a special Novena in honor of the Priesthood; meditation by Saint John Vianney, Popes Benedict XVI and John Paul II, Catherine de Hueck Doherty, Fr. Walter Ciszek, S.J., Sister Briege McKenna, O.S.C., Alec Guinness, and many others; and 11 beautifully reproduced pages of sacred art masterpieces.

The Catholic Priests Appreciation Network is a community of Catholic Christians who love their priests.

………………… added May 17, 2010

Letter on End of Priestly Year: Here is the letter sent to all priests by Cardinal Cláudio Hummes, prefect of the Congregation for Clergy, in anticipation of the closing of the priestly year.

Act of Entustment and Consecration of Priests to the Immaculate Heart of Mary: Prayer of His Holiness Benedict XVI, Church of the Most Holy Trinity, Fátima

………………… added May 26, 2010

Pope Explains Authority and the Priesthood — Says Role of Clergy Is That of Guide, Teache

………………… added June 4, 2010

Coverage of the end of this Year for Priests:

EWTN will broadcast Pope Benedict XVI celebrating Holy Mass concluding the Year for Priests on the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Live from St. Peter’s Square. Check the June schedule for other Year for Priests programming.

Catholic TV will also provide coverage from the Vatican with Pope Benedict.

Please remember, I will update this post as new resources become available. If you come across something that will help families to celebrate this Year of the Priest, please mention it in the combox.