30th May 2008 marks the 7th Annual “World Day of Prayer for Priests”.The World Day of Prayer for Priests, which falls on the Feast of the Sacred Heart each year was an initiative put in place by the late Pope John Paul II in 2002.
This day encourages and invites all believers around the world to pause at 3pm, local time, and offer up a prayer for their priest.
“Prayer is the Priests first Priority” is the theme announced by Cardinal Hummes, Prefect for the Congregation of clergy at the Vatican for the World Day of Prayer for Priests; this reminds believers that priests gain the strength to serve their parish and their lord through prayer.
Priests can be called to listen – day and night, whether it be in times of trouble or moments of joy, on this day the world is called to stop to offer up a prayer of encouragement and support for the men that act as the servants of God.
Today’s celebration is being driven by the communications group Quantum Universal, a group of committed Catholic Advertising lay people, based in both Ireland & the United States, who have been promoting World Day of Prayer for Priests since its advent.
Quantum Universal set up the websites www.worldpriestday.com in 2003 to facilitate the World Day of Prayer for Priests and www.worldpriest.com in 2005 as a central resource website for clergy worldwide to date the websites have received well over 6 million hits.
Quantum Universal is funded entirely with donations and fund raising.
This years celebration mass is taking place in Knock, Co Mayo, Ireland’s Marian Shrine. Quantum Universal are pioneering the first ever live web-cast from Knock, Mass will be broadcast live from Knock Shrine on Friday May 30th at 3pm GMT via the world priest day website www.worldpriestday.com.
This will also coincide with the 3pm silent moment of prayer that takes place on this day worldwide in thanksgiving for priests.
Marion Mulhall CEO of Quantum Universal said “We in Quantum Universal recognise that the world is becoming a more connected place, and we wish to use all technologies available to allow people across the globe to join in prayer on this day”. Monsignor Joe Quinn will be the main celebrant of the mass with lay people offering their thanks and prayers to priests.
Marion Mulhall, commented on the day “It has been my vision since setting up Quantum Universal in 2003 to create awareness for the importance of the work of Priests. After Pope John Paul II announced the annual world priest day in 2002 I knew it was my vocation to create as much support and awareness of this day as I could”, she continued, “I am delighted to see that this year is the most successful yet, with the help of donations of our supporters we have been able to make World Day of Prayer for Priests accessible to all”.
This year for the first time Quantum Universal has used main stream media to promote the message “The Priest is called to Listen” campaign ran alongside the World Day of Prayer for Priests, for the final 2 weeks of May.
DART & Bus passengers saw a series of adverts showing the everyday work of priests in modern times.
‘’Pope Benedict XVI thinks the value of communication lies in its truthfulness and respect for the common good, and media professionals have a duty to promote this.’’
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