Year for Priest Initiatives Flood Internet VATICAN CITY, JUNE 19, 2009 - The Congregation for Clergy is launching a new Web site for the Year for Priests, which begins today according to Zenit. The enthusiasm surrounding this occasion is echoing in initiatives across the globe. A letter from Cardinal Cláudio Hummes, prefect of the congregation, expressed the hope that "this may be a time of grace that will produce great apostolic fruit, especially of fidelity and intense renewal in the work of the ministry." He explained that their new site offers spiritual resources and documents for priests and lay people to celebrate the year, in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish. The cardinal affirmed that the Year for Priests "has been warmly received throughout the world" and the "positive effects will make themselves felt very quickly." He invited ordained ministers to "participate in it with every effort and creativity" and to "be unconditional disciples and audacious missionaries" for Christ. Another initiative was organized by WorldPriest, a group of Catholic communications professionals based on both the United States and Ireland. National initiatives in England and Wales are available through the new online portal created by the bishops' conference there. This Web site contains resources for priests, and allows users to browse through the online offerings of each of the 22 dioceses in the conference. Thus, for example, one can access the new Web site from the Archdiocese of Birmingham that features a multimedia "virtual seminary," posters, prayer cards, priestly testimonials and a seminary blog. Father Eddie Clare, committee chairman of the National Office for Vocation, affirmed that one important outcome of this year will be a "renewed emphasis on vocations." The year will run until June 19, 2010, and will center on the theme: "Faithfulness of Christ, Faithfulness of Priests." On the Net: 1) Congregation for Clergy site: http://www.annussacerdotalis.org/; 2) WorldPriest: www.worldpriest.com; 3) England and Wales Year for Priests portal: www.ukpriest.org; 4) Catholic University of America site: http://yearforpriests.cua.edu