The Greater Little Rock Chapter of the Serra Club is organizing events Oct. 29 to mark Priesthood Sunday in the diocese.
The day was established in 2003 to honor the priesthood in the United States. Organizers say the day is one way to send a message to the parish priests that they are loved and respected in their parishes.
The Serra Club is asking laity in each parish to mark the day some way, especially through prayer.
Tom Galek, vocation committee chairman for the Serra Club, said his organization is recommending parishes distribute prayer intention forms for a spiritual bouquet Sunday, Oct. 22. A spiritual bouquet is a list of Masses, adoration hours, rosaries and prayers that Catholics intend to undertake in honor of their pastor.
On Oct. 29, parishioners will be asked to return their pledge forms and a committee could summarize the prayer offerings and inform the parish priests about the spiritual bouquet.
The club also suggests parishes honor priests during school activities, potluck dinners, in special publications or with banners and signs.
The USA Council of Serra Club International said the event is important because of the decline in vocations in the past 40 years. Even though there are fewer priests, they are expected to do many more activities.
Only about 4,000 of the 19,000 parishes in the United States currently have more than one priest. Many priests serve two or more parishes by themselves.
Also, many believe the image of the priesthood has been tainted by the actions of a few priests who abused children.
The event is sponsored nationwide by the USA Council of Serra International, which is an organization for lay men and women whose mission is to affirm vocations to the priesthood and vowed religious life.
“The purpose of Priesthood Sunday is to engage every level of the Church in the United States in a national conversation about the priesthood,” said Father Richard Vega, president of the National Federation of Priests’ Councils.
Galek said it is up to each parish or school to decide how to celebrate Priesthood Sunday. For more information, call Galek at (501) 821-2792 or e-mail galekcornr@aol.com.
Serra Club in LR asks Catholics to honor priests
