PRAY FOR A PRIEST

CONTENTS

1.	Program description

2.	Bulletin Insert-Flyer

3.	Bulletin insert - short

4.   Sample Cards

Pray for a Priest Program
Object:  
To affirm the priests who serve our diocese and help create a culture which honors the vocations of priesthood.  Discuss this program with the local bishop and seek his approval before forming the sub-committee in your Serra Club to implement this priest appreciation program.

What is this program:
A program for lay and religious members of a diocese to ask God daily to help a priest whom He has chosen to fulfill his vocation well.

Background and Description: 

In recent years parishioners and members of Serra Clubs in the USA Council of Serra International have become more aware of the need to affirm their priests and priesthood.  
One parishioner of St. Lawrence the Martyr parish in Sunnyvale, CA, wondered what she could do to affirm and support her pastor and other priests.   While at Mass one Sunday, an inspiration came to her - organize Prayers for Priests.   With the approval of Bishop McGrath, and at his suggestion, she contacted the Serra Club of Santa Clara for assistance.  Mary Ann is now a member of Serra and the Club developed the Pray for a Priest Program.
The key to the success of the program is the involvement of people in every parish.  The program was initiated through a pilot program and extended to the 52 parishes in the diocese. There are at least 52 people praying daily for each priest serving in the diocese.
The USA Council of Serra International Vocations Committee is encouraged by programs like the Pray for a Priest Program, developed by members of Serra and shared in an effort to create a positive culture for Church vocations and affirm priesthood and consecrated life.

Program:  
A business sized card will be prepared for each diocesan and religious order priest serving the diocese.   The diocesan priest cards will have one side: the priest’s name, birthday            (month and day only), ordination date, the crest of the diocese (get permission to use the crest) and on the other side the Serran Prayer for the Perseverance of Vocations.  The religious order cards will have the priest’s name and his order.
         
•	One set of cards will be prepared for each parish in the diocese by the Serra Club. (Samples appended)

•	Bulletin announcement, flyer insertions and after Mass announcements will be scheduled as approved by the pastor. (Sample appended)

•	A Serran or parish vocation committee member will explain the program at each Mass.   (Sample script appended)

Serrans working with the parish vocation committee members will assist the parishioners as they exit the church after Mass in obtaining a card for their individual priest.

Each person selecting a priest will be expected to pray for him regularly, contact him to assure him of this prayer support and send greeting cards for special events to indicate  support and appreciation of his life of service.

One way to inaugurate the Pray for a Priest Program is to use the annual Priesthood Sunday event on the last Sunday of October. 

(Suggested outline for announcement, excerpts from the originator of the program Mary Ann Miller - a member of the Serra Club of Santa Clara, following Mass by SERRAN -)

Many of us wonder what we could do to encourage and build up our priests in the world they are serving today.   While at Mass one Sunday an inspiration came to one woman.  With a lot of thought and support of a Serra Club she organized Prayers for a Priest!  

Our bishop has given approval for our Serra Club to ask you to join in a simple but effective way to remember to pray for our priests.

So, please, take a card.  They are available (where can be determined by each parish).  
It has the name, birthday and ordination date of a priest in our diocese.   Ask God each day to help this man whom He has chosen to be the best priest he can be.

There are (xx#) of parishes in the diocese.   These cards will be available at each parish which means each of our priests will have (xx#) people praying for him.

What a wonderful help this could be!  

To learn more about the priest you have chosen as your prayer partner, contact ……
(representative of the Vicar of Clergy at the office of the diocese).   

 God Bless!

			(Flyer for inserting into Sunday Bulletin)

Pray for a Priest

In addition to praying for vocations and doing things to increase awareness of the need for vocations, The Serra Clubs of ------------------- have as one of our major activities the affirmation of our priests who are serving us every day. 

The goal of the Pray for a Priest program is to encourage all members of the parish to pray regularly for their pastor and other priests who have been an influence in their lives. 

The Bishop has approved the program as a way to affirm our priests and priesthood. 

How does it work?  We have prepared business size cards with a priest’s name, birthday and ordination date printed on them.  The priest’s location is not included but can easily be obtained from the diocesan directory.   

We are suggesting that when you leave church you pick a card from the deck and pray for that priest.  You may want to get his address and send him a note that you are praying for him.  Also, priests enjoy getting a card on the anniversary of their day of ordination or their birthday.  Each priest in our diocese will have someone praying for him in each parish.

	This is a very simple activity to support and encourage our priests and, as we all know, prayer is a powerful source of encouragement. 

	Please select your card as you leave church and keep it as a reminder to pray frequently for priests.

Please contact with comments or questions:

(Add names of the parish Vocations Committee and contacts from the nearest Serra Club )

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(For use in the Sunday Bulletin)

Pray for a Priest Program
In light of the challenges that are facing our priests,  with the approval of Bishop ___________ and Father ______________,  Vicar of Clergy -__________ ,
the Serra Clubs of the _____________________  are initiating a Pray for a Priest Program.  Members of the Serra Club will be at all Masses next weekend to tell us about this program and how all of us can join in this program to affirm our priests and priesthood.

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Sample Pray for a Priest cards provided by Serra Club of Santa Clara

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   Vocations Committee members suggested the priest's birth year not be included on the card.