“Each year, the priests of our diocese meet with the bishop to continue their ongoing formation as ministers of Word and sacraments, and shepherds for the faithful,” said Father Joseph Ring, vicar for clergy, pastor of St. James Parish in Riverton and priest-moderator of Resurrection Parish in Illiopolis.

“This ongoing formation became a serious expectation when Pope John Paul II issued his letter Pastores Dabo Vobis (I Will Give You Shepherds) and the bishops in the United States created the Basic Plan for the Ongoing Formation of Priests.” he said. “These two documents indicate that priests minister as a body in union with the bishop and not just as individuals. This corporate ministry is called the presbyterate.”

In a letter to priests announcing the event, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki said, “Since priestly ministry is a radically communitarian effort in union with the bishop, I look forward to our time together as an expression of our unity as a presbyterate.”

Father Ring said the main topic for this year’s convocation is “Renewing Sunday Preaching,” created and administered by the National Organization for Continuing Education of Roman Catholic Clergy. He said the topic was chosen to “foster the priestly ministry of teaching, especially through good preaching.”

“This convocation is an active reflection on Catholic Sunday Mass preaching, affirming priests’ dedication to preach the Word of God and to encourage their best efforts in that ministry,” Father Ring said.

On Thursday morning, Eliot Kapitan, director of the diocesan Office of Worship, is scheduled to address the topic of the revised Roman Missal. There will be time for priests and parish life coordinators to ask questions and to learn the resources available for implementing the changes in the Mass that will begin on Nov. 27, 2011. Before that First Sunday of Advent the priests will be preparing our parishes to fully participate in the new translation of the Roman Missal, Father Ring said.

“Preaching and the changes in celebrating the Mass are closely related,” he said. “Preaching the Word of God is integral to the Sunday celebration of the Eucharist, and the new translation of the Roman Missal is integral to the fuller participation of the priest and the faithful in the holy mysteries. For this reason all priests are expected to fully participate in the convocation. Parishioners are sure to benefit from their parish priests taking time away for this important event.”