Sept. 27, 2023

By Sister Mary Eamon Lyng, SSJ
Diocesan Vocation Coordinator

“You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” – Hebrews 7:17

These words are spoken to every man who receives the sacrament of holy orders. Priesthood Sunday will be celebrated in the parishes on Sunday, September 24.

The perfect model for every priest is Jesus Christ – the priest whose ultimate sacrifice was offered on the cross. Jesus Christ’s mission was to proclaim the love of the Father. His “High Priestly Prayer” is found in the Gospel of St. John Chapter 17. It is a prayer of petition to the Father that his disciples know the Father and the person of Jesus Christ whom the Father sent. These apostles are a gift to Jesus, and they have come to believe in Him. It is Jesus’ desire that the Father keep them in His name. These apostles will go out into the world to carry forward the Gospel message. Jesus pleads with His Father to keep them from the Evil One.

This is the same mission that every priest has when he ministers to every member in the parish community. The person of Jesus Christ is celebrated in every Eucharist, “Do this in memory of Me.” It is the prayer of every priest that no one is lost to the Evil One as he brings the Gospel message and the sacraments to his people.

The month of October is the month of the Holy Rosary. What a wonderful opportunity to pray for more vocations to the priesthood for the Diocese of Ogdensburg.

The Vocation Office has scheduled Andrew Dinners around the diocese to give men discerning their vocations an opportunity to come, to pray, to hear the vocation stories of Bishop Terry R. LaValley and some of our priests. We are inviting young men from our high schools, colleges, and communities to come and learn more about the call to priesthood in the life of the Church today.

The Andrew Dinners are being held in the following deaneries and locations:
CLINTON-NORTHERN FRANKLIN DEANERY    
October 1   at St. Alexander’s Parish Center, Morrisonville

ADIRONDACK MOUNTAIN DEANERY    
October 8   at Holy Ghost Parish Center, Tupper Lake

ST. LAWRENCE DEANERY
October 15 at Church of the Visitation Hall, Norfolk

JEFFERSON-LEWIS DEANERY
October 29 at St. James Parish Hall, Carthage

Pray for Bishop Valley, all the priests and deceased priests who have served so well in the Diocese of Ogdensburg.

Pray for your parish priest(s) and thank them for being “another Christ” for the people.

Pray for more vocations to the priesthood for the Diocese of Ogdensburg.

St. Jean-Marie Vianney, patron of parish priests, says, “Priesthood is the heart of Jesus.”