Happy Birthday Canada! Praying for Priests & Pope Benedict XVI

 

As we celebrated 
Canada Day on Friday - Liturgically we celebrated the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  This celebration - always on the Friday after Corpus Christi Sunday - is the annual day of prayer for priests.  St. John Vianney is the patron Saint of Priests, and his feast day is August 4th - the anniversary of my Baptism!  
This week was also a special time - as Pope Benedict celebrated his 60th anniversary of Ordination to the priesthood on June 29th.  Imagine 60 Years!

Archbishop Thomas Collins receiving Pallium June 29, 2007

That is the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, and is also the traditional date that Popes throughout the years have given the Pallium to men appointed as Archbishops in the past year.  
The Pallium is a sign of the office of a Metropolitan Archbishop. Archbishop Collins received a new Pallium after he was installed as the Archbishop of Toronto in 2007. 


Because it was the first Friday - and even though it was a national holiday in our country - and it was a Solemnity, we had our regular time of Adoration 7:30 - 9:00pm last night.  Fr. Sherwin led this time of prayer, and we distributed the Prayer cards marking the Pontiff's Anniversary of Ordination:
   God our Father,
   look with love on your servant,
   Pope Benedict XVI,
   the pastor of your Church.
   May his word and example inspire and guide the Church,
   and may he, and all those entrusted to his care,
   come to the joy of everlasting life.
   Fill your Church with the spirit of courage and love,
   and raise up many holy priests
   as worthy ministers for your altars, 
   and ardent but gentle servants of the Gospel.
   We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son
   who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
   One God, for ever and ever.  AMEN


Peace