2. Why October 2[5]?
The readings for this 30th Sunday in Ordinary time call our attention to the priesthood ("You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek" and the story of Christ, as Master, healing the blind man).
3. Who is sponsoring "Priesthood Sunday?"
The board of the National Federation of Priests' Councils, the major national voice of priests in the U.S., first declared Sunday, Oct. 26, 2003, Priesthood Sunday and called on churches all over America "to celebrate the gifts of priesthood in service to the Catholic community." A wide array of national lay organizations (including the USA Council of Serra International) and leaders are co-sponsoring the event.
4. Why have a "Priesthood Sunday?"
Our first reason for proposing a Priesthood Sunday is to affirm the priesthood in the life of the Church. Because there are fewer priests, people see less and less of them. Young people are not offered the opportunity to get to know priests. The explosion of lay ministers in pastoral ministry has lessened the visibility of the priest in the community. The role of the priest has shifted since Vatican II, causing some confusion about the place of the priest in the life of the Church. Our proposal seeks to reaffirm the priesthood of Jesus Christ and its central place in the life of the Church.
Second, in the wake of the clergy sex abuse scandal, there has been concern that all priests have been tainted by the actions of a few. Some organizations and parishes have attempted to counteract this negativity. “Priesthood Sunday” sends a message to Catholics and non-Catholics everywhere that the parish priest, as the instrument of Christ’s priesthood on earth, should be loved and respected by those in the parish community.
