YEAR OF THE PRIEST
May 2nd, 2009

My dear Brother Bishops:

On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of St.John Mary Vianney, Curé of Ars, Pope Benedict XVI has decided to celebrate a Year of the Priest, which he will solemnly inaugurate on June 19, 2009. The year is being celebrated, in the Pope’s own words, “to make the role and the mission of the priests in the Church and in contemporary society to be increasingly perceived.”

The Holy Father announced this Year during the audience he gave to the participants of the Plenary Assembly of the Congregation for the Clergy on March 16, 2009. In his address, the Pope said that the priestly ministry consists of a total adherence to the ecclesial tradition of participating “in a spiritually intense new life and new lifestyle which was inaugurated by the Lord Jesus and which the Apostles made their own”. He explained that priestly ordination creates “new men” who are endowed with the gift and the office of sanctifying, teaching and governing, and emphasized “the necessary, nay indispensible, urge for moral perfection which must dwell in every authentically priestly heart”.

The Holy Father’s initiative is indeed a welcome occasion for us. Bishops in Mission Territories, to examine – both individually and as a conference – how best the Year of the Priest can be used to deepen in our priests and faithful their appreciation of God’s sublime gift of the Sacred Priesthood. For this purpose, I would suggest that spiritual and pastoral initiatives be undertaken – like retreats, conferences, study sessions on interlia, the conciliar and post conciliar documents, e.g. Presbyterorum Ordinis, Pastores Dabo  Vobis, and the Letters which the Servant of God  Pope John Paul II addressed to priests every year on Maundy Thursday – to delve deeply into the mystery of this gift of God and to emphasize the dignity and serious responsibility of those who have been called to serve God and His holy people in the ministerial priesthood.

The year of the priest is connected with St.John Mary Vianney’s 150th death anniversary. He should indeed be source of inspiration for all priests, for he excelled in human, Christian and sacerdotal virtues, and was truly a Man of God and a man of others. Pope Benedict hails him as a “true example of Shepherd at the service of the flock of Christ”. The saintly Curé is admired. In particular, for his detachment from the things of this world; his deep humility and acceptance of humiliations; his extraordinary spirit of mortification and penance; his fortitude in trials and against the assaults of the devil; his purity, union with god and love of the Eucharist; his unremitting zeal and untiring service for souls by day and by night, at the confessional and in the pulpit. His compassion for all those in want: the sick, the poor, and the sinners; his rare power to draw people to God. The Church has named him the heavenly Patron of priests engaged in the pastoral ministry.

May the Year of the Priest be one of spiritual renewal for us, Bishops and priests, and lead all those entrusted to our pastoral care to be ever grateful for God’s precious gift of the Sacred Priesthood by which, true to His promise to be with us till the end of time, Christ Our Lord ensures Hid real presence in our midst in the Eucharist, and reconciles us to His heavenly Father through the sacramental service of His consecrated ministers.

Assuring you of my prayers and with every good wish, I remain

                                                         Yours fraternally in Corde Mariae,

                                                                                Sd/-
                                                                     Ivan Cardinal Dias