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Volume MMX No. 11 |
ADOPT A SEMINARIAN, PRIEST, OR RELIGIOUS
Objective: To affirm seminarians, priest and religious
Affirmation programs have been around for a long time and there are many activities that can be considered. Go to Vocation office of your Diocese and ask for a list of names, addresses, phone numbers and emails of the seminarians in your diocese or pick a priest or religious and get the same information. Ask Serrans to pick one of the names. They can then make contact via a letter, card, phone or email and inform them that they would like to “adopt them” and support them in any way they are able - which could include: • Keep them in your daily prayers, as well as include in your daily prayers a request for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life. • Send them cards on their birthday, Easter, Christmas, and other holidays. For priests include cards for National Priesthood Sunday, anniversary of ordination, and for religious a card for National Day for Consecrated Life. • Take them to lunch, dinner, golfing (sporting activities) or cultural activities • Invite them to your home for a meal or a special event. • For Seminarians, novices, and others in formation send a roll of stamps or a phone card or other small gifts and follow them through to ordination or consecration • Attend their Ordination or Consecration Event. • Take them on vacation with you. • Financial assistance to seminarians (always check with Diocese Vocation Office) • Immediate commendation and praise to priest for good homilies or some other good action. • Written notes of thanks and appreciation to parish ministers on special occasions such as baptisms, weddings, sickness, and funerals. • Positive statements and observations to neighbors, friends, and parishioners about parish ministers. • A spirit of friendliness, cooperation and assistance with the parish staff. • Recognition, understanding, and appreciation of heavy work load of priests and other parish staff personnel. • Do something special for a particular anniversary, date or year. Like 2009 “ Year For Priests”
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