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Mass celebrates Year for Priests
Relics to travel diocese

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
(Email Renee)

Three relics of St. John Vianney sat before an image of Christ the eternal High Priest during the Mass celebrated by Bishop R. Walker Nickless on Sept. 13 at Cathedral of the Epiphany.

In his opening comments, the bishop noted that St. John Vianney is the patron of priests and mentioned that he would say a prayer during the liturgy for all of the diocesan priests as part of the ongoing celebration during the Year for Priests.

During the homily, Bishop Nickless explained that Pope Benedict XVI had dedicated June 19, 2009, to June 19, 2010, as the Year for Priests. At the time the pope announced this special year, he had mentioned that it was the 150th anniversary of St. John Vianney.

“St. John Vianney is the patron of all priests and he set before us the model of what we are to be and how we are to strive to serve the people of God – especially in our devotion of the celebration of the Eucharist and in hearing confessions,” the bishop said.

Drawing the congregation’s attention to the three relics of St. John Vianney, the bishop announced that the relics would travel to each deanery – almost every parish in the diocese.

“I have asked each pastor, who will host the relics in his parish, to hold a holy hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament with the relic of St. John Vianney,” he said.

The parishioners will be asked to pray for priests and for priestly vocations to the diocese.

The image of Christ the High Priest will also travel with the relics to many parishes of the diocese.

“Our Holy Father has asked priests to use this year to grow in what he calls spiritual perfection. We are to be above all else, holy men of God,” Bishop Nickless said.

Referring to the Gospel of Mark, the bishop noted that all people are called to put their faith into action.
And while this is a special year for priests to strive to grow in holiness, they are reminded of the importance of their priestly service annually.

Bishop Nickless pointed out that each spring priests of the diocese attend the Chrism Mass, which is a special liturgy for the bishop to bless the sacred oils used in the sacraments of the church, including holy orders, and is a time for priests to renew their commitment to the priesthood.

At that time, the bishop said he told the priests that “Christ chooses them to share in his sacred mystery by the laying on of hands.”

Christ called priests, said Bishop Nickless, to lead holy people in love.

“I assure you that my brother priests feel the challenge of what it means to be a priest,” he said.

The bishop said priests were called to give their lives in service to God and were called to a likeness of Christ through faith and witness.

“To fulfill our tasks, we need to be constantly called to total surrender to God’s will in our lives,” Bishop Nickless said.

He asked the congregation for pray for him and to pray for the priests of the diocese.

The bishop asked the three priests who concelebrated the Mass with him – Father Dan Greving, Father Brent Lingle and Father William Vit – to stand before the image of Christ the High Priest as they recommitted themselves to priestly service.

Following Mass, a few parishioners made their way to the front of the church to venerate the relics of St. John.

Rita Held, a parishioner at Cathedral, took the time to say a prayer before the relics of St. John Vianney. She said she believes the Year for Priests “is a wonderful gift to the world – especially for the Catholic Church.

Priests, possibly more than any other time in history, need to be affirmed and reconnect to what it means to be a priest.”

Held said she anticipates that “wonderful things are going to happen because of the Year of the Priests. I hope people will pray for the bishop of the diocese, their pastors and all priests.”