EncouragePriests.org

In conjunction with the Catholics Come Home campaign, a new website is being launched called EncouragePriests.org. It won't be fully functional until Father's Day on June 20, but here's a sample of the movement they hope to start.

God bless our priests!

It seems like all of us have witnessed the kindness and dedication of a Catholic priest on numerous occasions, perhaps even daily. Maybe he humbly served at a funeral for someone in your family? Maybe, he helped prepare your son or daughter for marriage, and celebrated their Wedding Mass?

If we look further, we will witness the heroic and sacrificial lives of priests serving as Military Chaplains, ministering to the forgotten in nursing homes and hospitals, feeding the poorest of the poor, serving as a peacemaker during marriage counseling, and dedicating their lives to so many other works of mercy.

In our Catholic Church, the priest serves “in Persona Christi,” bringing us the saving grace of Jesus Christ through the sacramental waters of baptism; reconciling us to the Blessed Trinity in the confessional; and bringing us in full communion with Jesus - truly present in the Holy Eucharist during the celebration of every Mass.

Priests need encouragement.

How quick the world is to criticize priests, but Jesus calls us to pray for them to be great shepherds of their flocks. They are constantly on the front line of spiritual attacks from the secular media and un-churched people. Sometimes they are condemned by non-Catholics, who simply don’t understand the vocation of the Priesthood, that Jesus himself instituted on Holy Thursday.

Countless Catholic priests and bishops lead rewarding spirit-filled lives. Since they are human, they too can feel tired and lonely. Few of these servants receive our true gratitude and love. So many of these noble men of God could be uplifted by a simple prayer and a gentle word of appreciation from us!

Saint John Vianney, the Patron Saint of Parish Priests said: “If we were to fully realize what a priest is on earth, we would die: not of fright, but of love.” He goes on to say: “What use would be a house filled with gold, were there no one to open its door? The priest holds the key to the treasures of Heaven: it is he who opens the door.”

Here’s how we can help them.

EncouragePriests.org™ was established in 2010, by the non-profit Catholic media apostolate Catholics Come Home, Inc® (www.CatholicsComeHome.org), during the “Year for Priests” declared by Pope Benedict XVI. Our mission is to encourage priests, and promote priestly vocations through our love and prayers.

On Father’s Day (June 20, 2010), EncouragePriests.org™ will launch its interactive Web site (www.EncouragePriests.org) that will equip you in offering Spiritual bouquets as well as printable and e-greeting cards (Collar-Hollers℠ ) with kind words of gratitude to show your appreciation and love for our priests! Visitors will also have the opportunity to submit a one-minute video testimonial thanking their priest.

With your support, we also plan to develop beautiful television ads to uphold the priesthood and promote priestly vocations. In the meantime, please pray for our beloved seminarians, priests, bishops and our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI. We appreciate your prayers for the apostolic work of EncouragePriests.org™ and CatholicsComeHome.org®.