Non-stop prayers begin as year of priests ends

MANGALORE: As a mark of the conclusion of the year dedicated to the Christian priests of the world, a 40-hour non-stop prayer and adoration to the Blessed Sacrament has commenced at Our Lady of Dolores Chapel, situated in the Bishop's House here on Thursday at 6.45 am. The prayer was inaugurated by Rev Aloysius Paul D'Souza, the Bishop of the Diocese of Mangalore, with the Eucharistic celebrations. The Bishop invited all the faithful to thank God for the great gift of the priesthood and requested them to pray continuously for the priests so that they may be true to their vocation. The chancellor of the Diocese, Rev Henry Sequeira shared in the homily on the occasion. Many priests and lay representatives were present for the inaugural mass. There are 337 diocesan priests and 120 religious priests serving in the Diocese of Mangalore. The prayers will go on till midnight of Friday. Different prayer groups are partaking in the non-stop prayer series by turns. The Sister Disciples of the Divine Master are animating the 40-hour long prayer session. Background: Pope Benedict the 16th had dedicated a whole year (June 19, 2009 to June 19, 2010) to the priests of the world with the motto `Faithfulness of Christ and Faithfulness of Priests' on the occasion of the 150th Death Anniversary of St John Maria Vianney, the Patron of the priests. Throughout the year, different socio-spiritual activities were organized as to grow in the true vocation of priesthood. As a mark of the conclusion of the year of the priesthood, a three-day International Convention of Priests was organized in Vatican from June 9 to 11, for which every Catholic priest of the world was invited. More than 10,000 priests had participated in the convention. There were more than 15,000 priests from all the corners of the world to celebrate with the Pope in the concluding mass that was held on June 11, on the occasion of the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.