Vocations

Thanks to Shane Leisegang, past Parish Pastoral Council Chairman, who compiled this section for The Year of The Priest (2009-2010).

Pope Benedict XVI pronounced the Year of the Priest to be June 2009 - June 2010, and also dedicated it to St. Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney, the Patron Saint of Parish Priests. The Holy Father closed The Year of The Priest on June 19, 2010, at a "World Meeting of Priests" in St. Peter's Square.

Read Pope Benedict XVI Letter to Clergy for the Year for Priests>

In this article, the life of a Priest is beautifully described through references to St. Jean Vianney, the Cure’ D’Ars, and makes us think how extraordinarily fortunate we are to have a dedicated Parish Priest in our Parish where so many people around the world do not have regular access to priests due the decline in vocations in the economically developed countries of the Western World.

Even in our own country this shortage is evident with many parishes in urban areas having to share priests, a situation which is exacerbated in the rural areas due to the shortage of missionary priests.

In the words of St Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney "O, how great is the priest! … If he realized what he is, he would die. […] God obeys him: He utters a few words and the Lord descends from heaven at his voice, to be contained within a small host."

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ_588cHu50 ]