Our priests and religious – a force for good in our world!
When: 4th Sunday in October each year
What is World Priest Day?
World Priest Day (WPD) is a celebration and affirmation of the men who commit their lives to the Lord and the Church via the Sacrament of Holy Orders. It is an opportunity for Catholic Parishioners to thank, affirm and share their love and support for our priests.
HISTORY
The first World Priest Day was celebrated on the third Sunday in September 2000. The event grew from an idea in September 1998, when the Worldwide Marriage Encounter community in the diocese of Knoxville, Tennessee, decided to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the diocese by honoring all of their priests. The bishop and priests were so appreciative that the leaders of the local Marriage Encounter community shared the idea with the leaders of other communities in the Southeastern United States. Some of those communities adopted the idea in 1999, and had such a positive experience that they brought the idea to the U.S. Secretariat leadership board. One year later, Worldwide Marriage Encounter officially established the third Sunday of September as World Priest Day.
During the nearly 50 years that Marriage Encounter has existed in the U.S., one of its gifts has been the wonderful relationships that have grown between countless couples and priests. This idea for honoring our priests came from the love and respect that has grown from those relationships. It predated the recent Church scandals, but we believe that building stronger relationships between priests and their people can rebuild our Church! We are together on our faith journey.
In 2003 WWME reached out to the full Church and invited other lay groups to join in the celebration of affirming the men who faithfully serve as our beloved priests. In June of 2006, WWME changed the day of World Priest Day to the 4th Sunday in October to coincide with the Serra Club’s celebration of Priesthood Sunday. This became effective in 2007. World Priest Day is now celebrated concurrently with Serra Club’s Priesthood Sunday. Learn more about Priesthood Sunday and find a Serra Club near you.
A World Priest Day Prayer
Heavenly Father, We come before you today to ask your blessing on our brothers whom you have called to the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Lord Jesus, We ask that you support them with your presence and fill them with grace to serve You faithfully. Gracious Spirit, Unite us in service with those whom you have called. Open our hearts to encourage our brothers and sons to pursue your calling, and open their hearts to hear Your call to this most Holy Sacrament. Amen.
RESOURCES