p3-psundayusa.jpg On Oct. 26, Catholic parishes in the Springfield diocese and throughout the United States will show support of their priests with prayer, celebration and personal tributes. That's because the last Sunday of October is designated as Priesthood Sunday, a one-day celebration of the priesthood originated by parish lay leaders and coordinated by the USA Council of Serra International and the Serra International Foundation.
Priesthood Sunday was established in 2003 to provide a way for Catholic communities to express appreciation for the devoted priests who serve them so faithfully despite negative attention in the media. According to a news release from Priesthood Sunday USA, Priesthood Sunday sends a message to all that the parish priest, as the instrument of Christ's ministry on earth, is loved and respected by those in the parish community.
Priesthood Sunday also offers the opportunity for priests and their parishioners to build a stronger working relationship for the future. Priests and their people are encouraged to take an honest look at the challenges they face and then to collaborate to meet those challenges as a united force.
"Affirming and supporting our priests are some of the most important things that we do as Serrans," says Gary Davis, past president of the USA Council of Serra International. The USA Council is responsible for sending out information to parishes interested in honoring their priests on Priesthood Sunday.
"Our priests give of themselves every day in so many different ways," Davis says. "It is an honor to recognize them in a manner in which entire parishes may join together in an outpouring of appreciation."
Dr. David Mack, a founding member of the Serra Club of Springfield and a parishioner at Christ the King Parish in Springfield, agrees that Catholics should promote the priesthood in any way that they can.
"I belong to Serra Club because of the tremendous shortage of priests that currently exists," Mack says. "There is an extreme need for an organization that nurtures those who are currently members of the clergy and that also promotes vocations.
"Along with the Right to Life organization, the Serra Club is one of the most important organizations that I belong to," Mack says. "I think we live in critical times and we need guidance from our priests and need to support those who will be our future priests."
Father Joseph Ring, a priest of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois for 20 years, says he finds many blessings in the priesthood - not only on Priesthood Sunday, but every day.
"For me, the life-giving part of the priesthood is celebrating the sacraments with people of really vibrant faith," says Father Ring, who is vicar for clergy in the Springfield diocese, pastor of St. James Parish in Riverton and priest moderator of Resurrection Parish in Illiopolis. "For example, I feel that faith at Sunday Mass, weddings and even at funerals."
Sometimes the priesthood offers an even more special blessing, Father Ring concludes.
"A few weeks ago I had my niece's wedding over at my home parish of St. Mary's in Paris," he says. "My mom's side of the family has been in that parish for generations. It was really special for me, as an uncle, to have that wedding in a church that is so important to our family."
(For more information on Priesthood Sunday, go to www.priestsunday.org .)