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Sunday, March 26, 2023
You may recall that on March 25, 2022, Pope Francis led us all in consecration of Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Last week, he asked us all “to renew every March 25 the act of consecration to Our Lady, so that she, who is Mother, may preserve us all in unity and peace.”
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 3/26 | Fr. James Boyle | Bp. Randolph R. Calvo Reno, NV |
| MONDAY 3/27 | Fr. Robert Bradler | Bp. Frederick F. Campbell Columbus OH |
| TUESDAY 3/28 | Fr. Alexander Bradshaw | Bp. Roy E. Campbell Washington DC |
| WEDNESDAY 3/29 | Fr. Richard Brickler | Bp. Oscar Cantu San José CA |
| THURSDAY 3/30 | Fr. Philip Brockmyer | Abp. Robert J. Carlson St. Louis MO |
| FRIDAY 3/31 | Fr. Michael Brown | Bp. Edmund Carmody Corpus Christie TX |
| SATURDAY 4/1 | Bp. Salvatore Matano | Bp. Liam Cary Baker OR |
This week’s prayer is inspired by a prayer to Mary the Immaculate Queen of Peace:
O Mary, Mother of Christ and our mother, guard with your maternal heart these chosen ones, so dear to the heart of your Son. Intercede for our priests that, offering the Sacrifice of your Son, they may be conformed more each day to the image of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Most holy and immaculate Virgin, Mother of Jesus and our loving Mother, being His mother you shared in His universal Kingship. The prophets and angels proclaimed Him King of Peace. With loving fervor in our hearts we salute and honor you as Queen of peace. We pray that your intercession may protect our priests, your sons, from hatred and discord, and direct their hearts into the ways of peace and justice, which your Son taught and exemplified. We ask for your maternal care for our Holy Father who works to reconcile the nations in peace.
Glorious Queen of peace, grant our priests peace in their hearts and harmony in their parishes and communities. Immaculate Mother, watch over them and protect them with your motherly love. Amen.
Ven. Fulton J. Sheen, pray for our priests.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, March 19, 2023
Happy Laetare Sunday!
This week, can we pray especially for a priest in Florida who has been “celebrating Mass” without wine, and other priests who may need strengthening of their understanding of the rubrics of the Mass? Also pray for all priests who preach the Gospel faithfully, and make those homilies available online to those of us who live far away from them.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 3/19 | Fr. Joseph Martuscello | Bp. Edward J. Burns Dallas TX |
| MONDAY 3/20 | Fr. Joseph Marcoux | Bp. Peter J. Byrne New York NY |
| TUESDAY 3/21 | Fr. Sylvester Bioh | Bp. William D. Byrne Springfield MA |
| WEDNESDAY 3/22 | Fr. Paul Bonacci | Bp. Frank J. Caggiano Bridgeport CT |
| THURSDAY 3/23 | Fr. Dennis Bonsignore | Persecuted & Troubled Bishops |
| FRIDAY 3/24 | All Deacons | Bp. Brendan J. Cahill Victoria TX |
| SATURDAY 3/25 | Fr. Robert Bourcy | Bp. William P. Callahan OFM Conv La Crosse WI |
Our prayer this week:
Father God, You said to Samuel “ ‘anoint him, for this is the one!’ Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand, anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and from that day on, the spirit of the LORD rushed upon David.” (1Sam 16:12b-13). When our priests are ordained into the holy priesthood, Your graces rush upon them, Keep their hearts open to You, and help them to cooperate with Your will for their priestly vocation. Amen.
Ven. Fulton J. Sheen, pray for our priests.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, March 12, 2023
Today we are reminded again not to harden our hearts to God or grow stubborn to His ways.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 3/12 | Fr. Theodore Auble | Bp. Fabian W. Bruskewitz Lincoln NE |
| MONDAY 3/13 | Fr. Victor Bartolotta | Bp. Neal James Buckhorn Washington DC |
| TUESDAY 3/14 | Fr. Michael Bausch | Bp. John Buren Philadelphia PA |
| WEDNESDAY 3/15 | Fr. Peter Bayer | Bp. Michael F. Burbridge Arlington VA |
| THURSDAY 3/16 | Fr. Richard Beligotti | International Bishops |
| FRIDAY 3/17 | Fr. Robert Beligottii | Bp. Kurt R. Burnett West Paterson NJ |
| SATURDAY 3/18 | Fr. Philip Billotte | Bp. Edward J. Burns Dallas TX |
This week’s prayer is adapted from the writings of Raymond Nader:
Lord, we pray that our priests do not harden their hearts to You. Soften their hearts, open their dark minds so that they are free to receive Your calling to them. Let their love be without boundaries, their communities be the Church, and their rule the Gospel. Let them be as lighthouses to guide the ships straying into raging seas, and let their hearts be harbors of peace for those lost, homeless and seeking help. Let their prayers invoke mercy, and shower love on the earth. Amen.
Ven. Fulton J. Sheen, pray for our priests.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, March 5, 2023
Happy Second Sunday of Lent. If you haven’t had a chance yet, be sure to check out the Special Intentions page on https://prayersforpriests.com. We have added a number of prayer requests from and for priests. Keep sending them, and we’ll keep posting them,
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 2/26 | Pope Francis | Bp. Edward K. Braxton Belleville IL |
| MONDAY 2/27 | Fr. Daniel L. White | Bp. Joseph V. Brennan Fresno CA |
| TUESDAY 2/28 | Fr. Mitchell Zygadlo | Bp. Mark E. E. Brennan Wheeling-Charleston WV |
| WEDNESDAY 3/1 | Fr. William Amann | Bp. Robert J. Brennan Brooklyn NY |
| THURSDAY 3/2 | Fr. Anthony Amato | Deceased Bishops |
| FRIDAY 3/3 | Fr. Ronald Antinarelli | Abp. Timothy P. Broglio Military Services USA |
| SATURDAY 3/4 | Fr. Frederick Asuming | Bp. Tod D. Brown Orange CA |
This week’s prayer:
Lead our priests, O God, from the sight of the lovely things of the world to the thought of You their Creator; and grant that delighting in the beautiful things of Your creation, they may delight in You, the First Author of beauty and the Sovereign Lord of all Your works, blessed for evermore. Amen.
Ven. Fulton J. Sheen, pray for our priests.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Saturday, February 25, 2023
Spring Ember Days are this coming Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, special days of prayer and fasting for our priests. I’ve been thinking a lot this week about all of the burdens our priests carry. I reached out to a number of priests, inviting them to share their prayer requests with us. As always, I will keep their requests anonymous.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 2/26 | Fr. Matthew Walter | Bp. John Michael Botean Canton OH |
| MONDAY 2/27 | Fr. Eugene Weis | Bp. Michael J. Boulette San Antonio TX |
| TUESDAY 2/28 | Inactive & Sabbatical Priests | Bp. Earl A. Boyea Lansing MI |
| WEDNESDAY 3/1 | Fr. Robert Werth | Bp. Paul J. Bradley Kalamazoo MI |
| THURSDAY 3/2 | Fr. Daniel E. White | Pope Francis |
| FRIDAY 3/3 | Vocations & Seminarians | Bp. Lawrence E. Brandt Greensburg PA |
| SATURDAY 3/4 | Bp. Salvatore Matano | Bp. Michael J. Bransfield Wheeling-Charleston WV |
Please keep LB, JD, EE, PE, RF, BH, MJ, SK, TN, DO, FS & TV, as well as priests who face violence, have lost love ones, are battling chronic pain/illnesses/addictions, have spiritual or personality issues complicating their ministry, or are struggling with their faith or vocation.
This week’s prayer:
Loving Father, embrace our priests in all of their needs. Jesus, strengthen and enliven our priests as they bring You to us. Mary, Mother of priests, wrap your mantle of love around our priests. St. Joseph, defend our priests from the treachery of their enemies, visible or otherwise. Amen.
Ven. Fulton J. Sheen, pray for our priests.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Saturday, February 18, 2023
Happy Feast of Saints Jacinto and Francisco Marti, two of the Fatima visionaries.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 2/19 | Fr. Jeffrey Tunnicliff | Bp. Kevin M. Birmingham Chicago IL |
| MONDAY 2/20 | Fr. Michael Twardzik | Abp. Leonard P. Blair Hartford CT |
| TUESDAY 2/21 | Fr. Gary Tyman | Bp. J. Kevin Boland Savannah GA |
| WEDNESDAY 2/22 | Fr. Michael Upson | Bp. David J. Bonnar Youngstown PA |
| THURSDAY 2/23 | Fr. Peter Van Lieshout | Persecuted & Troubled Bishops |
| FRIDAY 2/24 | Fr. Louis Vasile | John S. Bonnici New York NY |
| SATURDAY 2/25 | Fr. Walter Wainwright | Bp. Paul Bootkoski Metuchen NJ |
This week’s prayer:
Christ our shepherd, Christ our pastor, Christ our priest, have mercy on all priests of Your Church. Have mercy on all the priests who have responded to Your call, even when their task is beyond all human ability. Have mercy on all who have to announce Your forgiveness, even when sin’s burden weighs heavy in their hearts. Have mercy on all who have to bring Your healing, though they can command no miracles and work no wonders. Have mercy on all who have to speak in Your name, though Your Name is an unsearchable mystery. Have mercy on all who have to approach Your table, taking Your body in their hands, breaking it, giving it away to whoever wants it, a feast for the life of the world – even when they, Your priests, are still so hungry and so poor.
Have mercy, Lord Christ, on all who feed others while they themselves go hungry; who pray for others even though for them the heavens are silent; who go on speaking Your Word their whole lives long when they themselves have heard only the faintest whisper; who proclaim good news and pour out the oil of joy while their own hearts grieve – have mercy, and sustain them by the eternal Word of Your joy and by the grace of Your heavenly priesthood. Amen.
Ven. Fulton J. Sheen, pray for our priests.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, February 12, 2023
Happy Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time. In today’s Gospel we are urged to detach from anything in our lives that keeps us from God. “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.” (Mt 5:29)
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 2/5 | Fr. Edison Tayag | Bp. Stephen J. Berg Pueblo CO |
| MONDAY 2/6 | Fr. David Tedesche | Bp. Juan Miguel Betancourt SEMV Hartford CT |
| TUESDAY 2/7 | Fr. Matthew Temple | Bp. Herbert A. Brevard St. Thomas VI |
| WEDNESDAY 2/8 | Fr. Paul Tomasso | Bp. Francois Beyrouti Newton MA |
| THURSDAY 2/9 | Fr. Daniel Tormey | International Bishops |
| FRIDAY 2/10 | Fr. Thomas Travers | Bp. Steven Biegler Cheyenne WY |
| SATURDAY 2/11 | Fr. Martin Truong | Bp. Joseph R. Binzer Cincinnati OH |
Our prayer this week is adapted from a prayer from St. Basil the Great:
God of mercy, receive our priests who come to You, in Your holy Name and that of Your beloved Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy and all-powerful and life-giving Spirit. Help them to detach from all that is not of You. Drive away from their souls all helplessness, all faithlessness, all unclean spirits, greed, lust for gold, love of silver, madness, licentiousness, all evil—dark, faceless, and shameless. Thus, Lord, drive away from them all the work of the devil, all witchcraft, all idolatry, all passion for pleasure, all concupiscence, love of money, drunkenness, debauchery, shamelessness, anger, love of discord, restlessness, and all deceitful intentions. Our Lord God, breathe into them Your spirit of peace. Amen.
Ven. Fulton J. Sheen, pray for our priests.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, February 5, 2023
Great news! The Archdiocese of Seattle now has a Prayers for Priests calendar! The link is https://archseattle.org/ovc-pray-for-priests/. I have also added the link to our Dioceses page. If any of you know of other dioceses, in the US or around the world, that have calendars that are not listed on that page, please let me know. I’ll be happy to put their links in as well.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 2/5 | Pope Francis | Bp. Mark L. Bartchak Altoona-Johnstown PA |
| MONDAY 2/6 | Fr. James Schwartz | Bp. Mark A. Bartosic Chicago IL |
| TUESDAY 2/7 | Fr. Lance Gonyo | Bp. Gerard W. Battersby Detroit MI |
| WEDNESDAY 2/8 | Fr. Felicjan Sierotowicz | Bp. Ramon Bejarano San Diego CA |
| THURSDAY 2/9 | Fr. Louis Sirianni | Deceased Bishops |
| FRIDAY 2/10 | Fr. William Spilly | Abp. Andrew E. Bellisario CM Anchorage-Juneau AK |
| SATURDAY 2/11 | All Missionaries | Abp Eusebius J. Beltran Oklahoma City OK |
Our prayer this week is adapted from Gaudium et spes, from yesterday’s Office of Readings:
Remind our priests, Dear Jesus, that when he works, he not only alters things and society, he develops himself as well. He learns much, he cultivates his resources, he goes outside himself and beyond himself. This kind of growth is of greater value than any external riches which can be obtained. A priest is more precious for what he is than for what he has. Help him to keep his activity in accord with the divine plan and will, and harmonize it with the genuine good of the human race. Let them as individuals and as members of society pursue their total vocation and fulfil it. Amen.
Ven. Fulton J. Sheen, pray for our priests.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Saturday, January 28, 2023
This Thursday we celebrate the Feast of Candlemas as well as the Presentation of the Lord. If you can, try to attend Mass. In the past, all of the candles to be used in the church for the coming year would be blessed at this Mass.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 1/29 | Fr. Sriram Sadhanala | Bp. Gerald M. Barbarito Palm Beach FL |
| MONDAY 1/30 | Fr. Carlos Sanchez | Bp. Michael C. Barber SJ Oakland CA |
| TUESDAY 1/31 | Fr. Joseph Sasso | Bp. Gerald R. Barnes San Bernadino CA |
| WEDNESDAY 2/1 | Fr. Michael Sauter | Bp. John O. Barres Rockville Centre NY |
| THURSDAY 2/2 | Fr. Robert Schrader | Persecuted & Troubled Bishops |
| FRIDAY 2/3 | Vocations & Seminarians | Bp. Robert Barron Winona MN |
| SATURDAY 2/4 | Bp. Salvatore Matano | Bp. Mark L. Bartchak Altoona PA |
As we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, we should consider all the ways He makes himself present to us:
O Lord, You make Yourself present to us each and every day, especially through Your priests as they are in persona Christi. Thank You for this most adorable and beneficial gift. As we celebrate the Feast of Your Presentation, help our priests to always be as open to Your presence as Simeon was. May they make You present to us as well. Amen.
Ven. Fulton J. Sheen, pray for our priests.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, January 22, 2023
Happy Word of God Sunday!
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 1/22 | Fr. Edward Palumbos | 22 Abp. Gregory M. Aymond New Orleans LA |
| MONDAY 1/23 | Fr. Pius Pathmarajah | Bp. Robert J. Baker Birmingham AL |
| TUESDAY 1/24 | Fr. Jorge Ramirez | Bp. Peter Baldacchino Las Cruces NM |
| WEDNESDAY 1/25 | Fr. John Reif | Bp. Victor Balke Crookston MN |
| THURSDAY 1/26 | Fr. Leo Reinhardt | Persecuted & Troubled Bishops |
| FRIDAY 1/27 | All Missionaries | Bp. Joseph C. Bambera Scranton PA |
| SATURDAY 1/28 | Fr. Daniel Ruiz | Bp. Robert J. Banks Green Bay WI |
This week’s prayer was inspired by a great homily I heard this weekend (thanks, DPS):
Heavenly Father, You love us so much You sent Your Word to us as Your only begotten Son. While He lived here on earth He instituted the Holy Eucharist. He also created the holy priesthood so that we would always be able to have Him with us in the Eucharist. Please give us strong and faithful priests who guide us by Your teachings. We cannot receive Christ at Mass in the Eucharist, and then go our and live our lives in opposition to the Word. That would be a contradiction. Empower them to consistently lead us to Your Truth. Amen.
Ven. Fulton J. Sheen, pray for our priests.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, January 15, 2023
Happy Second Sunday of Ordinary Time.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 1/15 | Fr. Kevin Murphy | Bp. Joy Alappatt. Chicago IL |
| MONDAY 1/16 | Fr. Thomas Nellis | Bp. Benedict Aleksiychuk Chicago IL |
| TUESDAY 1/17 | Fr. Timothy Niven | Bp. Martin J. Amos Davenport IA |
| WEDNESDAY 1/18 | Fr. Symon Peter Ntaiyia | Bp. Jacob Angadiath Chicago IL |
| THURSDAY 1/19 | All Deacons | International Bishops |
| FRIDAY 1/20 | Fr. Malachy Nwosu | Abp. Samuel J. Aquila Denver CO |
| SATURDAY 1/21 | Fr. Eugene O’Hara | Bp. Mario Alberto Aviles C.O. Brownsville TX |
This week we are praying a prayer adapted from St. Augustine:
O Lord our God, we believe in You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Insofar as You have given our priests the power, they have sought You. They became weary and they labored. O Lord our God, our sole hope, help them to believe and never to cease seeking You. Grant that they may always and ardently seek out Your countenance. Give them the strength to seek You, for You help them to find You and You have more and more given them the hope of finding You. They are before You with their firmness and their infirmity. Preserve the first and heal the second. They stand before You with their strength and their ignorance. Where You have opened the door to them, welcome them at the entrance; where You have closed the door to them, open to their cries; enable them to remember You, to understand You, and to love You. Amen.
Ven. Fulton J. Sheen, pray for our priests.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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January 8, 2023
It has come to my attention that there was a glitch in the link for the novena last week. While the link said it was for St. Félix, it may have connected you to St. Hilary’s novena instead. If you had that problem, try https://www.praymorenovenas.com/st-felix-novena (yes, I know it looks the same, but it seemed to fix the problem)
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 1/8 | Fr. William Moorby | Bp. Chad Sielinski Fairbanks AK |
| MONDAY 1/9 | Fr. Peter Morello | Bp. Thomas Zinkula Davenport IA |
| TUESDAY 1/10 | Fr. Peter Mottola | Bp. David A. Zubik Pittsburgh PA |
| WEDNESDAY 1/11 | Fr. Anthony Mugavero | Bp. Patrick J. Zurek Amarillo TX |
| THURSDAY 1/12 | Fr. Thomas Mull | Deceased Bishops |
| FRIDAY 1/13 | Deceased Priests | Repose of the soul of Pope Emer. Benedict XVI |
| SATURDAY 1/14 | Fr. John Mulligan | Bp. Alejandro Aclan Los Angeles |
This week’s prayer is inspired by a sermon by St. Augustine, bishop:
O Lord Jesus Christ, eternal Creator of all things, You became our Savior by being born of a mother, of Your own will, for us today, in time, to lead us to the Father’s eternity. You became man so that man might become God. What miracles! What prodigies! The laws of nature are changed in the case of man. You are born without sin, for Mary bore You without the embrace of a man, not by the concupiscence of the flesh but by the obedience of the mind.
Today, the prophecy is fulfilled that said:. Pour down, heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just one: let the earth be opened and bring forth a savior. You who had created all things are now created, so that he who was lost would be found. Find all of our lost priests. Man, in the words of the psalmist, confesses: Before I was humbled, I sinned. Man sinned and became guilty; God is born a man to free man from his guilt. Free all of our priests struggling with sin or guilt. Man fell, but You descended; man fell miserably, but You descended mercifully; man fell through pride, You descended with Your grace. Save our priests from their misery and pride with Your mercy and grace. Amen.
Ven. Fulton J. Sheen, pray for our priests.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, January 1, 2023
Today we close the Octave of Christmas, on the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 1/1 | Pope Francis | Bp. Andrew Peter Wypych Chicago IL |
| MONDAY 1/2 | Fr. Daniel McMullin | Bp. John W. Yanta Amarillo TX |
| TUESDAY 1/3 | Fr. Michael Merritt | Bp. Abdallah Elias Zaidan MLM St. Louis MO |
| WEDNESDAY 1/4 | Fr. William Michatek | Bp. Luis R. Zarama Raleigh NC |
| THURSDAY 1/5 | Fr. Justin Miller | Pope Francis & Pope Emer. Benedict XVI |
| FRIDAY 1/6 | Vocations & Seminarians | Bp. Gabino Zavala Los Angeles CA |
| SATURDAY 1/7 | Bishop Salvatore Matano | Bp. Andrzej Zglejszewski Rockville Centre NY |
This week we are praying a closing reflection on the rosary, again by Kathleen Beckman:
Heavenly Father, I, a poor servant, ask that I may glorify the Trinity in the offering of my daily prayers and sacrifices for the holiness of priests. I am inspired by the glorious witnesses of saints who went before me on the path of spiritual motherhood and fatherhood. I unite my offering to all the spiritual mothers and fathers of priests through the history of the Church. I pray that I may imitate their fidelity and fruitfulness in handing down the Faith to future generations by spiritually supporting all clergy in prayer –which is the heart of the New Evangelization. Amen.
Ven. Fulton J. Sheen, pray for our priests.
And my special thought for all of you, sent to me by a friend:
“Hello, welcome to Flight #2023. We are prepared to take off into the New Year. Please make sure your Attitude and Blessings are secured and locked in an upright position. All self-destructive devices should be turned off at this time. All negativity, hurt and discouragement should be put away. Should we lose Altitude under pressure, during the flight, reach up and pull down a Prayer. Prayers will automatically be activated by Faith. Once your Faith is activated you can assist other passengers. There will be NO BAGGAGE allowed on this flight. The Captain (GOD) has cleared us for takeoff. Destination GREATNESS… Happy 2023!”
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday, December 24, 2022
A Merry Christmas Eve to you all! The wait is over. Emmanuel!
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 12/25 | All Missionaries | Abp. Thomas G. Wenski Miami FL |
| MONDAY 12/26 | Fr. Joseph Marcoux | Abp. John C. Wester Santa Fe NM |
| TUESDAY 12/27 | Fr. Joseph Maurici | Bp. Edmund J. Whalen New York NY |
| WEDNESDAY 12/28 | Fr. Michael Mayer | Bp. Gerald E. Wilkerson Los Angeles CA |
| THURSDAY 12/29 | Fr. Joseph McCaffery | Bp. J. Kendrick Williams Lexington KY |
| FRIDAY 12/30 | Fr. Kevin McKenna | Bp. William J. Winter Pittsburgh PA |
| SATURDAY 12/31 | Deceased Priests | Card. Donald W. Wuerl Washington DC |
This week we are praying a prayer associated with the fifth Joyful mystery:
Father, I pray that priests will be always breaking open the living Word in Your temple, the Church. Graciously grant priests the gift of zeal for your house, zeal for Christ, zeal for souls, zeal for the priesthood, zeal for loving service, and zeal for heaven. Amen.
Ven. Fulton J. Sheen, pray for our priests.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday, December 17, 2022
And now we enter into the final week of Advent, the week of Love. May our priests know they are loved by us all.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 12/18 | Fr. Christopher Linsler | Bp. Ignatius C. Wang San Francisco CA |
| MONDAY 12/19 | Fr. Frank Lioi | Bp. Michael W. Warfel Great Falls-Billings MT |
| TUESDAY 12/20 | Fr. John Loncle | Bp. Emil A. Wcela Rockville Centre NY |
| WEDNESDAY 12/21 | Fr. Bernard Maloney | Abp. Rembert G. Weakland OSB Milwaukee WI |
| THURSDAY 12/22 | Fr. Kevin Mannara | Persecuted & Troubled Bishops |
| FRIDAY 12/23 | Redemptorist Frs. & Brs. | Bp. William K. Weigand Sacramento CA |
| SATURDAY 12/24 | Fr. Joseph Martuscello | Bp. Edward J. Weisenburger Tucson AZ |
This week we are praying a prayer associated with the fourth Joyful mystery:
Father, I pray for priests to grow in the gift of personal prayer, that they may know the joy of encountering Jesus Christ and of having a lively interior life. Please raise priests to know the power of prayer from the heart. Amen.
Ven. Fulton J. Sheen, pray for our priests.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday, December 11, 2022
A joyful Gaudete Sunday to you all! Rejoice!
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 12/11 | Fr. Scott Kubinski | Bp. William Wack CSC Pensacola-Tallahassee FL |
| MONDAY 12/12 | Fr. William Laird | Bp. David J. Walkowiak Grand Rapids MI |
| TUESDAY 12/13 | Fr. Steven Lape | Bp. James S. Wall Gallup NM |
| WEDNESDAY 12/14 | Fr. Charles Latus | Bp. Daniel F. Walsh Santa Rosa CA |
| THURSDAY 12/15 | Fr. James Lawlor | International Bishops |
| FRIDAY 12/16 | Fr. William Leone | Bp. Gerald T. Walsh New York NY |
| SATURDAY 12/17 | Fr. Steven Lewis | Bp. William John Waltershield Pittsburgh PA |
This week we are praying a prayer associated with the third Joyful mystery:
Father, the prophet Isaiah said, “A little child shall lead them” (Is. 11:6). I pray for priests to be humble with a childlike trust in divine providence. Please heal priests of any fear of vulnerability that is required for authentic Christ-like love and service. May the Christ Child be born anew in the heart of every priest so they remember the Gift of Love. Amen.
Ven. Fulton J. Sheen, pray for our priests.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday, December 4, 2022
Happy Second Sunday of Advent.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 12/4 | Pope Francis | Bp. Robert F. Vasa Santa Rosa CA |
| MONDAY 12/5 | Fr. Robert Kennedy | Bp. Joe S. Vasquez Austin TX |
| TUESDAY 12/6 | Fr. Roy Kiggins | Bp. Austin A. Vetter Helena MT |
| WEDNESDAY 12/7 | Fr. Stephen Kraus | Bp. Allen H. Vigneron Detroit MI |
| THURSDAY 12/8 | Fr. Robert Kreckel | Deceased Bishops |
| FRIDAY 12/9 | Fr. Gerard Krieg | Bp. Gerald L. Vince Salina KS |
| SATURDAY 12/10 | Carmelite Fathers | Abp. John G. Vlazny Portland OR |
This week we are praying a prayer associated with the second Joyful mystery. Our prayer this week if for the first Joyful Mystery:
Father, I pray that priests never tire of going forth to serve wherever they are needed. Please grant to priests the experience of joy in their sacrificial love for souls. Sanctify your priests that they may sanctify your people, attracting souls to your kingdom. Amen.
Ven. Fulton J. Sheen, pray for our priests.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, November 27,2022
We now begin again a new liturgical year. What a great time to start new habits, and strengthen our prayers for our priests and the Church.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 11/27 | Fr. Matthew Jones | Bp. Donald W. Trautman Erie PA |
| MONDAY 11/28 | Fr. Philip Judge | Bp. Marc V. Trudeau Los Angeles CA |
| TUESDAY 11/39 | Fr. Stanley Kacprzak | Bp. Louis Tylka Peoria IL |
| WEDNESDAY 11/30 | Fr. Stephen Karani | Bp. Joseph J. Tyson Yakima WA |
| THURSDAY 12/1 | All Deacons | Pope Francis & Pope Emer. Benedict XVI |
| FRIDAY 12/2 | Vocations & Seminarians | Bp. Peter J. Uglietto Boston MA |
| SATURDAY 12/3 | Bp. Salvatore Matano | Bp. Kevin W. Vann Orange CA |
The prayers for the Advent-Christmas season all come from a resource I’ve used before, Kathleen Beckman’s Praying for Priests: A Mission for the New Evangelization. Many people meditate on the Joyful Mysteries on Sundays, or even every day, during Advent and Christmas. Each week we will pray a prayer associated with one of these mysteries. If you want to follow her reflections and meditations for the complete rosary, go to https://catholicexchange.com/advent-joyful-mysteries-holiness-priests/. Our prayer this week if for the first Joyful Mystery:
Father, I pray for priests to listen, hear and respond, as did Mary so that their hearts are receptive to the divine will. Please grant to priests the gift of wisdom to ardently desire holiness of life. Graciously protect them from temptations to flight, compromise, compensation, vice or sin. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, November 20, 2022
Happy Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. We’ve been celebrating this feast for almost 100 years, since Pope Pius IX instituted it in 1925.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 11/20 | Inactive & Sabbatical Priests | Bp. Philipios Mar Stephanos Thottathil Elmont NY |
| MONDAY 11/21 | Fr. Peter Helfrich | Bp. Neil E. Tiedemann C.P. Brooklyn NY |
| TUESDAY 11/22 | Fr. James Hewes | Bp. James C. Timlin Scranton PA |
| WEDNESDAY 11/23 | Fr. Daniel Holland | Bp. Thomas J. Tobin Providence RI |
| THURSDAY 11/24 | Fr. Timothy Horan | Persecuted & Troubled Bishops |
| FRIDAY 11/25 | Fr. James Jaeger | Card. Joseph William Tobin CSsR Newark NJ |
| SATURDAY 11/26 | Fr. Francis Jones | Bp. David L. Toups Beaumont TX |
Our prayer this week is adapted from a couple of prayers for Christ the King:
Almighty everlasting God, who in Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, has willed to restore all things anew; grant in Your mercy that all people, rent asunder by the wound of sin, may be subjected to His most gentle rule.
O Jesus Christ, we acknowledge You as universal King. All that has been made has been created for You. Exercise all Your rights over all priests. Put it on their hearts to renew their Baptismal Vows. Make them renounce Satan, his pomps and his works, and to promise to live as good Catholics. And, in particular may they pledge to labor, to the best of their ability, for the triumph of the rights of God and of Your Church. Divine Heart of Jesus, help our priests to offer their services, laboring that all hearts may acknowledge Your sacred kingship, and that thus the reign of Your peace be established throughout the whole universe. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Saturday, November 12, 2022
This week, let’s pray especially in thanksgiving for all priests who encourage strong devotional lives among their parishioners, and that God will enliven that willingness in more priests.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 11/13 | Fr. Paul Gitau | Bp. David P. Talley Memphis TN |
| MONDAY 11/14 | Fr. William Graf | Bp. James A. Tamayo Laredo TX |
| TUESDAY 11/15 | Fr. Joseph Hart | Bp. Anthony B. Taylor Little Rock AR |
| WEDNESDAY 11/16 | Fr. John Hayes | Bp. Daniel E. Thomas Toledo OH |
| THURSDAY 11/17 | Fr. John Healy | International Bishops |
| FRIDAY 11/18 | Fr. Frederick Helfrich | Bp. George Leo Thomas Las Vegas NV |
| SATURDAY 11/19 | All Deacons | Abp. Charles C. Thompson Indianapolis IN |
Our prayer this week is adapted from a prayer written by David Savage:
Dear Lord, we pray that you will create among our priests and bishops Catholic leaders; individuals made in Your image who will apply Your teachings in their lives, and positively impact our families, our workplaces, our communities, and our Church.
Help them to inspire those with whom they come in contact to share their God-given talents, to do Your will and to find a place in Your kingdom where their deepest joys and the world’s deepest hungers meet and cry for their special qualities and abilities.
Make them leaders, Lord, leaders with strength and courage to follow You. Leaders who make Your love visible to the world in all of their words and actions.
Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, November 6, 2022
Can we pray especially for any priests who are struggling right now, especially with illnesses that are lingering?
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 10/9 | Pope Francis | Bp. Phillip F. Straling Reno NV |
| MONDAY 10/10 | Fr. Michael Fowler | Bp. Joseph E. Strickland Tyler TX |
| TUESDAY 10/11 | Fr. Ronald Gaesser | Bp. Gregory J. Studerus Newark NJ |
| WEDNESDAY 10/12 | Fr. William McGrath | Bp. Dennis J. Sullivan Camden NJ |
| THURSDAY 10/13 | Fr. John Gagnier | Deceased Bishops |
| FRIDAY 10/14 | Fr. Jeffrey Galens | Bp. Paul J. Swain Sioux Falls SD |
| SATURDAY 10/15 | Fr. John Gathenya | Bp. Kevin J. Sweeney Paterson NJ |
Our prayer this week:
How wonderful, Heavenly Lord, when you tell us that You “have come not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” In Your love, You meet us where we are. We don’t have to be perfect. We don’t have to hide our sins from You. You know our hearts and our minds anyway. You just want us to acknowledge our sins, repent, and strive to follow You all the more.
But let us not be mistaken. You do call us to repentance. The only way to eternal life with You is by turning from our sins. Please give us holy priests to accompany us on our journey, guiding us by showing where we need to change our ways and leading us back to You. The most loving of shepherds that You send to us won’t stand by and watch as we get stuck in the brambles or fall off the cliff living our own way. They will act in Your stead and lead us back. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, October 30, 2022
Happy Thirty-First Sunday of Ordinary Time.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 10/30 | All Missionaries | Bp. F. Richard Spencer Military Services USA |
| MONDAY 10/31 | Fr. Jesus Flores-Rivera | Monsignor Jeffrey N. Steenson The Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter |
| TUESDAY 11/1 | All Missionaries | Bp. J. Terry Steib SVD Memphis TN |
| WEDNESDAY 11/2 | Deceased Priests | Bp. Kenneth D. Steiner Portland OR |
| THURSDAY 11/3 | Fr. John Forni | Pope Francis & Pope Emer. Benedict XVI |
| FRIDAY 11/4 | Vocations & Seminarians | Bp. Richard F. Stika Knoxville TN |
| SATURDAY 11/5 | Bishop Salvatore Matano | Bp. John Stowe OFM Conv Lexington KY |
Our prayer this week is adapted from one by St. Augustine:
Lord Jesus, our Savior, let our priests come to You.
If their hearts are cold; Lord, warm them with Your selfless love.
If their hearts are sinful; cleanse them with Your precious blood.
If their hearts are weak; strengthen them with Your joyous Spirit.
If their hearts are empty; fill them with Your divine presence.
Lord Jesus, their hearts are Yours; possess them always and only for Yourself. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, October 23, 2022
Yesterday was the Feast of St. Pope John Paul II, often called the Pope of Life and the Family. How much we need his intercession as we live in this world today!
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 10/23 | Fr. William Endres | Bp. Peter L. Smith Portland OR |
| MONDAY 10/24 | Fr. Peter Enyan-Boadu | Bp. Lawrence D. Soens Sioux City IA |
| TUESDAY 10/25 | Fr. Thomas Erdle | Bp. Oscar Azarcon Solis Salt Lake City UT |
| WEDNESDAY 10/26 | Fr. Richard Farrell | Abp. Stefan Soroka Philadelphia PA |
| THURSDAY 10/27 | Fr. James Fennessy | Persecuted & Troubled Bishops |
| FRIDAY 10/28 | Fr. John Firpo | Bp. Jaimie Soto Sacramento CA |
| SATURDAY 10/29 | Fr. Raymond Fleming | Bp. J. Mark Spalding Nashville TN |
Our prayer this week is inspired by documents from St. Pope John Paul II, and from Pope Benedict as Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith:
O Loving Jesus, when You founded Your Church, You promised to send the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth, constantly sustaining the Church on her way. You called men as priests to serve You and us. Keep them firm in their faith, believing and professing each and every thing that is contained in the word of God, Tradition, and the Creed of the Catholic Church, and all that the Church through the Magisterium sets forth to be believed as divinely revealed by You and therefore not changeable.
Remind them of their promises to always preserve communion with the Catholic Church by words and actions with great care and fidelity. Help them to hold fast to the entire deposit of faith. Encourage them to hand it on to us and explain it to us, avoiding any teachings contrary to it. Let them not reject teachings of the Church or deny truths that must be believed, lest they lead us astray or cause us to doubt our faith. Give them the grace to accept correction when they, through words or actions or lifestyle, cause the faithful to abandon the One True Faith. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, October 16, 2022
Today is the Sunday we are reminded to stay persistent in our prayer. It is also the Feast of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, who did much to spread devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 10/16 | Fr. Albert Delmonte | Bp. Larry Silva Honolulu HI |
| MONDAY 10/17 | Fr. Joseph DeMaio | Bp. Michael J. Sis San Angelo TX |
| TUESDAY 10/18 | Fr. John DeSocio | Bp. Richard J. Sklba Milwaukee WI |
| WEDNESDAY 10/19 | Fr. Edward Dillon | Abp. William C. Skurla Pittsburgh PA |
| THURSDAY 10/20 | Fr. William Donnelly | International Bishops |
| FRIDAY 10/21 | Fr. Thomas Dugan | Bp. William S. Skylstad Spokane WA |
| SATURDAY 10/22 | All Deacons | Bp. Edward J. Slattery Tulsa OK |
Our prayer this week is adapted from comments by Pope Francis and a few others contemplating the Sacred Heart of Jesus:
Sweet Jesus, invite us all, and especially our priests, to look to Your Heart and imitate its most authentic sentiments. We pray for all priests, and for bishops, cardinals and the Pope, so that all pastoral actions may bear the imprint of the love that You bear for each human being.
Do not let our priests be afraid to present to You all the intentions of their suffering humanity, its fears, its miseries. May Your Heart, full of love, give them all hope and trust!”
We pray also for the sanctity of our priests, that they might be sanctified through Your Sacred Heart, and that they may intercede for the people they serve to bring them closer to God.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Saturday, October 8, 2022
This weekend is Clergy Appreciation Sunday.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 10/9 | Fr. Michael Costik | Abp. Michael J. Sheehan Santa Fe NM |
| MONDAY 10/10 | Fr. Richard Crawley | Bp. Gilbert I. Sheldon Steubenville OH |
| TUESDAY 10/11 | Fr. Charles Curran | Bp. George A. Sheltz Galveston-Houston TX |
| WEDNESDAY 10/12 | Fr. Donald Curtiss | Bp. Michael J. Sheridan Colorado Springs CO |
| THURSDAY 10/13 | Fr. Gerard D’Souza | Deceased Bishops |
| FRIDAY 10/14 | Fr. Bernard Dan | Bp. Bernard E. Shlesinger III Atlanta GA |
| SATURDAY 10/15 | Fr. August Deasio | Bp. Joseph M. Siegel Evansville IN |
Our prayer this week is adapted from a few prayers on https://connectusfund.org/:
Lord, we enter Your courts with praise and thanksgiving. Thank You for choosing our priests to shepherd the Church. Thank You for helping them to walk in the counsel of the Godly. May You continue strengthening them so that they can lead us to You, our true living God. Remove anything in their lives that may hinder them from fulfilling the calling You have placed in their hearts. May they hide under Your wings all the days of their lives. We want to thank You for the great sacrifice that our priests make to ensure that we grow spiritually. Lord, continue prospering them and their work. Grant them wisdom that they may know how to teach the word in a way that brings people closer to Your Son Jesus Christ.
Father, so many priests are drifting away from the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. Many of them are choosing to serve men instead of You. Draw them back to the one true faith. But we thank You for our priests who have remained faithful to their calling. They are determined to preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified all the days of their lives. Lord, help them to remain faithful to their vocation. Gracious God, we want to say thank You for the incredible power that is working within our priests to transform lives. We know it is not them but You delivering people from captivity. Lord, supply all their needs according to Your glorious riches. May they always remember that You care about them.
In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, October 2, 2022
Happy Twenty Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 10/2 | Pope Francis | Abp. Roger L. Schwietz OMI Anchorage AK |
| MONDAY 10/3 | Fr. Daniel Condon | Bp. Mark J. Seitz El Paso TX |
| TUESDAY 10/4 | Fr. Patrick Connor | Bp. Timothy C. Senior Philadelphia PA |
| WEDNESDAY 10/5 | Fr. Brian Cool | Bp. Arthur J. Serratelli Paterson NJ |
| THURSDAY 10/6 | Fr. William Cosgrove | Pope Francis & Pope Emer. Benedict XVI |
| FRIDAY 10/7 | Vocations & Seminarians | Bp. Carlos A. Sevilla SJ Yakima WA |
| SATURDAY 10/8 | Fr. Richard Brickler | Bp. Emanuel H. Shaleta San Diego CA |
Our prayer this week is adapted from 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14:
Father in Heaven, You have formed our priests to serve Your people. Stir into flame the gift You have bestowed on them through the imposition of hands at their ordination. You did not give them a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not let them be ashamed of their testimony to our Lord; but may they bear their share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from You.
Lead them to take as their norm the sound words and teachings that You have passed on to them and us through sacred Scripture and Tradition, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard this rich trust within them with the help of the Holy Spirit that dwells within them. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, September 25, 2022
Yesterday was the last of the three Ember Days for September. Anybody remember those? They are four periods of fasting, abstinence, and prayer throughout the year, to thank God for the gifts of nature, to assist the needy and to pray for priests and vocations. Back as early as the 5th century, the rule was that clergy should be ordained in the Ember weeks, traditionally on the Saturday. It was established as a Church law in the early 11th century.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 9/25 | Fr. Lee Chase | Abp. J. Peter Sartain Seattle WA |
| MONDAY 9/26 | Fr. Augustine Chumo | Bp. Joseph M. Sartoris Los Angeles CA |
| TUESDAY 9/27 | Fr. Peter Clifford | Bp. Edward B. Scharfenberger Albany NY |
| WEDNESDAY 9/28 | Fr. William Coffas | Bp. Stanley G. Schlarman Dodge City KS |
| THURSDAY 9/29 | Fr. John Colacino | Bp. Alfred A. Schlert Allentown PA |
| FRIDAY 9/30 | Basilian Fathers | Abp. Dennis M. Schnurr Cincinnati OH |
| SATURDAY 10/1 | Bishop Salvatore Matano | Bp. James T. Schuerman Milwaukee WI |
Our prayer this week:
God our Father, You are still calling as many men to the priesthood as we need. May those You are calling respond to Your invitation. You Who desire that all men should be saved an come to the knowledge of Your Truth, send laborers into Your harvest and grant them grace to speak Your word with all trust, that Your words may run and be glorified, and that all nations may know You, the One True God, and Him whom You have sent, Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord.
O Jesus, Eternal Priest, keep Your priests within the shelter of Your Sacred Heart where none may touch them. Keep pure and unearthly their hearts, sealed with the sublime mark of the priesthood. Let Your Holy Love surround them, our current and future priests, and shield them all from the world’s contagion. Bless their labors with abundant fruit, and may the souls to whom they minister be their joy and consolation here, and in heaven their beautiful and everlasting crown. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, September 18, 2022
Happy Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 9/18 | Fr. Roman Caly | Bp. Alexander Salazar Los Angeles CA |
| MONDAY 9/19 | Fr. Brian Carpenter | Abp. Alexander K. Sample Portland OR |
| TUESDAY 9/20 | Fr. Joseph Catanise | Bp. Nicholas J. Samra Newton MA |
| WEDNESDAY 9/21 | Bp. Emer. Matthew Clark | Bp. Paul R. Sanchez Brooklyn NY |
| THURSDAY 9/22 | Fr. Scott Caton | Persecuted & Troubled Bishops |
| FRIDAY 9/23 | All Deacons | Bp. Guy Sansaricq Brooklyn NY |
| SATURDAY 9/24 | Fr. Thomas Celso | Bp. Michael A. Saporito Newark NJ |
Our prayer this week is adapted from the Decree on the Life and Ministry of Priests of the Second Vatican Council:
Jesus Christ, the Father sanctified, consecrated and sent You into the world. You gave Yourself for us that You might redeem us from all iniquity. In like fashion, priests consecrated by the anointing of the Holy Spirit and sent by You must mortify the works of the flesh in themselves and give themselves entirely to the service of men. It is in this way that they can go forward in that holiness with which You endow them to perfect man. Hence, those who exercise the ministry of the spirit and of justice will be confirmed in the life of the spirit, so long as they are open to the Your Spirit, Who gives them life and direction. By the sacred actions which are theirs daily as well as by their entire ministry they are directed to perfection in their lives. Holiness does much for priests in carrying on a fruitful ministry. Perfect them in their holiness. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, September 11, 2022
Happy “Week of great feasts.” This week we celebrate St. Cyprian (martyr), the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. John Chrysostom (the “golden-mouthed” patron saint of preachers), the Exultation of the Holy Cross, Our Lady of Sorrows, St. Cornelius (Pope), and St. Robert Bellarmine (Doctor of the Church).
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 9/11 | Fr. Alexander Bradshaw | Bp. Alberto Rojas San Bernardino CA |
| MONDAY 9/12 | Fr. Paul Brennan | Bp. Luis M. Romero Fernandez M.ID. Rockville Center NY |
| TUESDAY 9/13 | Fr. Richard Brickler | Bp. Peter A. Rosazza Hartford CT |
| WEDNESDAY 9/14 | Fr. Philip Brockmyre | Bp. Robert J. Rose Grand Rapids MI |
| THURSDAY 9/15 | Deceased Priests | International Bishops |
| FRIDAY 9/16 | Fr. Michael Brown | Abp. Mitchell Thomas Rozanski St. Louis MO |
| SATURDAY 9/17 | Fr. Timothy Brown | Bp. Sylvester D. Ryan Monterey CA |
Our prayer this week is a prayer found at https://www.franciscanmedia.org/pausepray/praying-for-priests by Theresa Doyle-Nelson:
Oh God, help us to remember to pray for our priests. Many are overworked, and many are serving beyond normal retirement age. Please help us to remember that we can ask your holy ones in heaven for prayers too; that your multitude of saints in heaven will also pray for our priests to strengthen them, encourage them, be with them. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, September 4, 2022
Happy Feast of Saint Pope Gregory the Great, one of four saintly popes we call Great. His feast day was yesterday, September 3. One of his famous works is the book, The Book of Pastoral Rule, a treatise on the responsibilities of the clergy written around the year 590, shortly after his papal inauguration.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 9/4 | Pope Francis | Bp. David L. Ricken Green Bay WI |
| MONDAY 9/5 | Fr. Paul Bonacci | Card. Justin F. Rigali Philadelphia PA |
| TUESDAY 9/6 | Fr. Dennis Bonsignore | Bp. Mark S. Rivituso St. Louis MO |
| WEDNESDAY 9/7 | Fr. Martin Truong | Abp. Thomas J. Rodi Mobile AL |
| THURSDAY 9/8 | Fr. Robert Bourcy | Deceased Bishops |
| FRIDAY 9/9 | Fr. James Boyle | Bp. Placido Rodriguez CMF Lubbock TX |
| SATURDAY 9/10 | Fr. Robert Bradler | Bp. Jorge Rodriguez-Novelo Denver CO |
Our prayer this week is adapted from one by Saint Pope Gregory the Great:
Lord, any man who You send forth as a preacher is called a watchman. A watchman always stands on a height so that he can see from afar what is coming. Anyone You have appointed to be a watchman for the people must stand on a height for all his life to help them by his foresight. Help our priests recognize when they may become slothful, negligent and distracted by the many responsibilities with which they must concern themselves. Saint Gregory the Great testified that he “must worry about the invasions of roving bands of barbarians, and beware of the wolves who lie in wait for my flock. I must become an administrator lest the religious go in want. I must put up with certain robbers without losing patience and at times I must deal with them in all charity…Moreover, in my position I must often communicate with worldly men.” While more than 14 centuries have passed since he penned those words, much is still the same. The nature and appearance of the barbarians and wolves may have changed, but they present as big of a threat to Your people, and as big of a challenge – and threat – to Your priests! Strengthen them to stand on the mountain of action and not lie down in the valley of weakness. You are the all-powerful Creator and Redeemer of mankind. You can give them, in spite of their weaknesses, a higher life and effective speech. May they love you enough that they cannot and will not spare themselves in speaking of You. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, August 28, 2022
Happy Feast of St. Augustine. If any of us feel like God can’t use us in this world, think about the conversion of this amazing saint and remember that God knows everything about us, He created and loves us, and He will use us, and our past experiences, to draw others to Him.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 8/28 | Fr. Peter Bayer | Bp. Robert P. Reed Boston MA |
| MONDAY 8/29 | Fr. Richard Beligotti | Bp. Daniel P. Reilly Worcester MA |
| TUESDAY 8/30 | Fr. Robert Beligotti | Bp. Francis R. Reiss Detroit MI |
| WEDNESDAY 8/31 | Fr. Philip Billotte | Bp. Kevin C. Rhoades Fort Wayne-South Bend IN |
| THURSDAY 9/1 | Fr. Sylvester Bioh | Pope Francis & Pope Emer. Benedict XVI |
| FRIDAY 9/2 | Vocations & Seminarians | Bp. John H. Ricard SSJ Pensacola-Tallahassee FL |
| SATURDAY 9/3 | Bishop Salvatore Matano | Bp. Edward M. Rice Springfield-Cape Girardeau MO |
Our prayer this week is adapted from one by St. Augustine:
Almighty Father, come into the hearts of our priests, and so fill them with Your love that forsaking all evil desires, they may embrace You, our only good. Show them, O Lord our God, what You are to them. Say to their souls, ‘I am your salvation’, speak so that they may hear. Their hearts are before You; open their ears; let them hasten after Your voice. Hide not Your Face from them, we beg You, O Lord. Open their hearts so that You may enter in. Repair the ruined mansions, that You may dwell therein. Hear us, O Heavenly Father, for the sake of Your only Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Saturday, August 20, 2022
Tomorrow we celebrate the Feast of Pope St. Pius X, a model of humility whose last will and testament simply states: “I was born poor, I have lived in poverty, and I wish to die poor.” May we all follow his example.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 8/21 | Inactive & Sabbatical Priests | Bp. Glen Provost Lake Charles LA |
| MONDAY 8/22 | Fr. Ronald Antinarelli | Bp. John M. Quinn Winona-Rochester MN |
| TUESDAY 8/23 | Fr. Frederick Asuming | Bp. Andriy Rabiy Philadelphia PA |
| WEDNESDAY 8/24 | Fr. Theodore Auble | Bp. Steven J. Raica Birmingham AL |
| THURSDAY 8/25 | Fr. William Barrett | Persecuted & Troubled Bishops |
| FRIDAY 8/26 | Fr. Victor Bartolotta | Bp. Ricardo Ramirez CSB Las Cruces NM |
| SATURDAY 8/27 | Fr. Michael Bausch | Bp. George J. Rasses Chicago IL |
Our prayer this week is inspired by Pope St. Pius X:
Heavenly Father, we ask that our priests be holy men, and that many more continue to answer Your call to join them in the priesthood. Help them to see that simplicity of life and humility of heart are still the highest wisdom and indispensable conditions of a perfect Christian life, for they are the very source of apostolic fruitfulness. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, August 14, 2022
Happy Feast of the Assumption tomorrow.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 8/14 | Fr. Eugene Weis | Bp. Joseph N. Perry Chicago IL |
| MONDAY 8/15 | Deceased Priests | Bp. Lawrence T. Persico Erie PA |
| TUESDAY 8/16 | Fr. Daniel E. White | Bp. Michael D. Pfeifer OMI San Angelo TX |
| WEDNESDAY 8/17 | Fr. Daniel L. White | Bp. Lee Anthony Piche St. Paul-Minneapolis MN |
| THURSDAY 8/18 | Fr. Mitchell Zygadlo | International Bishops |
| FRIDAY 8/19 | Fr. William Amann | Bp. Anthony M. Pilla Cleveland OH |
| SATURDAY 8/20 | Fr. Anthony Amato | Bp. James P. Powers Superior MI |
Our prayer this week is adapted from a prayer on http://intercessionforpriests.org/:
Christ Jesus, you invite us to pray to the Lord of the Harvest that He send laborers into His fields. Lord and God of all, call to the priesthood men on fire with Your Divine Love, who will be the voice of the Good Shepherd to the scattered sheep of the flock. Lord and Savior, bless us with holy priests and continue to fan the flames of that fire in them. Through their ministry may Your life-giving Presence in the Sacraments be always present in Your Church. Lord and Giver of Life, raise up men filled with Your Power and with great missionary zeal, so that all who dwell in darkness may come to live in the Light of Christ. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, August 7, 2022
The Mass for vocations and seminarians that we celebrated this week at St. Dominic was so encouraging! In addition to all of the priests and seminarians who were there, I met a young man, Evan, who is discerning a call to the priesthood. Please pray for him, and all of them. We certainly need more holy priests!
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 8/7 | Pope Francis | Bp. Stephen D. Parkes Savannah GA |
| MONDAY 8/8 | Fr. Peter Van Lieshout | Bp. Richard E. Pates Crookston MN |
| TUESDAY 8/9 | Fr. Louis Vasile | Bp. John Stephen Pazak CSsR Phoenix AZ |
| WEDNESDAY 8/10 | All Deacons | Bp. Raymundo J. Pena Brownsville TX |
| THURSDAY 8/11 | Fr. Robert Werth | Deceased Bishops |
| FRIDAY 8/12 | Fr. Walter Wainwright | Bp. Joseph A. Pepe Las Vegas NV |
| SATURDAY 8/13 | Fr. Matthew Walter | Abp. Nelson J. Perez Philadelphia PA |
Our prayer this week is adapted from a remark by Pope Francis:
God our Heavenly Father, inspire us through Your Spirit to be close to our priests with our affection and with our prayers, that they may always be shepherds according to Your Heart. May they always feel our love and support, and know they are part of our families. Never let them feel alone or abandoned.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, July 31, 2022
This Friday we are again praying for our seminarians, and for new vocations to the priesthood. If you happen to be able to get to Shortsville, NY on Thursday this week, Fr. Aaron Kelly will be celebrating Mass at St. Dominic Church at 5 PM, followed by dinner and an opportunity to meet and support our Rochester seminarians. If you are planning to attend, contact Deacon Dermot (585-329-1974) or Janene Loghran (janene_loughran@yahoo.com).
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 7/31 | All Deacons | Bp. Thomas J. Olmsted Phoenix AZ |
| MONDAY 8/1 | Fr. Jeffrey Tunnicliff | Bp. Michael F. Olson Fort Worth TX |
| TUESDAY 8/2 | Fr. Michael Twardzik | Card. Seán P. O’Malley OFM Cap Boston MA |
| WEDNESDAY 8/3 | Fr. Gary Tyman | Bp. Thomas John Paprocki Springfield IL |
| THURSDAY 8/4 | Fr. Michael Upson | Pope Francis & Pope Emer. Benedict XVI |
| FRIDAY 8/5 | Vocations & Seminarians | Bp. Adam J. Parker Baltimore MD |
| SATURDAY 8/6 | Bishop Salvatore Matano | Bp. Gregory Parkes St. Petersburg FL |
Our prayer this week is adapted from a letter to St. Polycarp from St. Ignatius of Loyola:
Jesus, our High Priest, we pray You will ignite in our priests a steadfast commitment to avoid evil practices; indeed, to preach against them. Inspire them to work together in harmony, struggle together, run together, suffer together, rest together, rise together, as stewards, advisors and servants of God. May they seek to please You whose soldiers they are and from whom they draw their pay. Let none of them prove a deserter. Let their baptism be their armor, their faith their helmet, their charity their spear, and their patience their panoply. Let their good works be their deposits, so that they may draw out well-earned savings. Guide them to be patient and gentle with one another, as You are with them. May they have joy in You for ever. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, July 24, 2022
We are reminded in today’s Gospel reading that whoever asks of God, receives. Whoever seeks, finds. Whoever knocks, God will open the door for them. That is why we pray for our priests. We know God will hear and answer our prayers for them.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 7/24 | Fr. Thomas Statt | Card. Edwin F. O’Brien Baltimore MD |
| MONDAY 7/25 | Fr. Edison Tayag | Bp. Armando X. Ochoa Fresno CA |
| TUESDAY 7/26 | Fr. David Tedesche | Bp. David G. O’Connell Los Angeles CA |
| WEDNESDAY 7/27 | Fr. Matthew Temple | Bp. David M. O’Connell CM Trenton NJ |
| THURSDAY 7/28 | Fr. Paul Tomasso | Persecuted & Troubled Bishops |
| FRIDAY 7/29 | Fr. Daniel Tormey | Bp. Mark O’Connell Boston MA |
| SATURDAY 7/30 | Fr. Thomas Travers | Bp. John J. O’Hara New York NY |
Our prayer this week is adapted from one found at CatholicHarborOfFaithAndMorals.com:
Guard our priests from false prophets, O Lord, and from heretics, and seducers, and grant them the grace, that according to St. Paul’s instructions they may become fruitful in all good works. Inflame their hearts, that they may adorn their faith with them, thus do the will of the Heavenly Father, render themselves worthy of heaven, and lead us to do the same.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, July 17, 2022
I just love the readings from this weekend. Hospitality is defined as “the friendly and generous reception of guests, visitors, or strangers.” It can be shown in so many ways.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 7/17 | Fr. Joseph Sasso | Abp. Joseph F. Naumann Kansas City KS |
| MONDAY 7/18 | Fr. Robert Schrader | Bp. Eduardo A. Nevares Phoenix AZ |
| TUESDAY 7/19 | Fr. James Schwartz | Bp. Thanh Thai Nguyen Orange CA |
| WEDNESDAY 7/20 | Fr. Feliciano Sierotowicz | Bp. R. Walker Nickless Sious City IA |
| THURSDAY 7/21 | Fr. Louis Sirianni | International Bishops |
| FRIDAY 7/22 | Fr. William Spilly | Abp. John C. Nienstedt St. Paul-Minneapolis MN |
| SATURDAY 7/23 | All Missionaries | Bp. John G. Noonan Orlando FL |
Our prayer this week:
Most Precious Jesus, You have called us all to offer hospitality to those we meet. We see from Your Word that there is a biblical pattern of intimacy, fellowship, support, and love surrounding the concept of sharing a meal or even just our time with one another. Your hospitality is different from our own, because it is offered not as a way to impress the guests. Rather, You offer God’s very hospitality where every person is welcomed into the Kingdom of God, the banquet of divine love, which is the very life of the Church. This week, we ask that Your Spirit will move in us, showing us opportunities to offer hospitality to our priests. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Saturday, July 9, 2022
Happy Feast of St. Benedict, which we will be celebrating on Monday.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 7/10 | Fr. Leo Reinhardt | Bp. Daniel H. Mueggenborg Reno NV |
| MONDAY 7/11 | Benedictine Fathers | Bp. Peter M. Muench Rapid City SD |
| TUESDAY 7/12 | Fr. Daniel Ruiz | Bp. Robert W. Muench Baton Rouge LA |
| WEDNESDAY 7/13 | Fr. Sriram Sadhanala | Bp. William J. Muhm Military Services USA |
| THURSDAY 7/14 | Fr. Lance Gonyo | Deceased Bishops |
| FRIDAY 7/15 | Fr. Carlos Sanchez | Bp. W. Michael Mulvey Corpus Christi TX |
| SATURDAY 7/16 | Fr. Jack Healy | Bp. William F. Murphy Rockville Centre NY |
Our prayer this week is adapted from a prayer from St. Benedict:
Gracious and Holy Father, give our priests the wisdom to discover You, the intelligence to understand You, the diligence to seek after You, the patience to wait for You, eyes to behold You, a heart to meditate upon You, and a life to proclaim You, through the power of the Spirit of Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, July 3, 2022
A friend visited another parish for Mass today. He mentioned that he saw multiple budding vocations to the priesthood and religious life among the altar servers and the many families in the pews. Please, God, let it be so! This weekend we are also celebrating the ordination of the newest priest in the Diocese of Rochester – Father Aaron Kelly, congratulations on your ordination to the priesthood! I will update the rest of the list of recent ordinations over the course of the next week or so.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 7/3 | Pope Francis | Bp. Carl F. Mengeling San Jose CA |
| MONDAY 7/4 | Fr. John O’Connor | Bp. Jeffrey M. Monforton Steubenville OH |
| TUESDAY 7/5 | Fr. Eugene O’Hara | Bp. Robert F. Morneau Green Bay WI |
| WEDNESDAY 7/6 | Fr. Edward Palumbos | Bp. Robert M. Moskal Parma OH |
| THURSDAY 7/7 | Fr. Pias Pathmarajah | Pope Francis & Pope Emer. Benedict XVI |
| FRIDAY 7/8 | Fr. Jorge Ramirez | Bp. Mikaël Mouradian New York NY |
| SATURDAY 7/9 | Fr. John Reif | Bp. Witold Mroziewski Brooklyn NY |
Our prayer this week:
Heavenly Father, You have been calling men to the vocation of the priesthood for almost 2,000 years. We pray that many more men accept Your invitation. We pray also for those who are already ordained, especially those who are overwhelmed by the duties that seem to pull them away from pastoral needs, those struggling with the losses of this world while leading us to eternity, and those who are currently facing their own illnesses. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, June 26, 2022
There are so many different things we could focus our prayers on this week. With the news that came out of Washington D.C. please pray for the safety of our churches and our priests. I thought about sending the St. Michael Prayer this week, but we just prayed that back in September. The Feast of St. Irenaeus is Tuesday, and as a Doctor of the Church, and the primary source of what we know about the early church, he could also offer plenty to pray about. However, I’m not going down either of those paths.
There is a wealth of Votive Masses, special Feasts and other “devotional” Masses, part of the immense treasury of the Church, that can teach us so much! One such liturgy is the Feast of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, to be celebrated on the Thursday of the octave of the Sacred Heart (this year June 30). In the beginning of this three-year national focus on the Eucharist, let’s start from there.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 6/26 | Fr. William Moorby | Bp. Michael G. McGovern Belleville IL |
| MONDAY 6/27 | Redemptorist Frs. & Brs. | Bp. Patrick McGrath San Jose CA |
| TUESDAY 6/28 | Fr. Malachy Nwosu | Bp. John J. McIntyre Philadelphia PA |
| WEDNESDAY 6/29 | Fr. B. Nathan Davis | Bp. W. Shawn McKnight Jefferson City MO |
| THURSDAY 6/30 | Fr. Hoan Dinh | Bp. Robert J. McManus Worcester MA |
| FRIDAY 7/1 | Vocations & Seminarians | Bp. William F. Medley Owensboro NY |
| SATURDAY 7/2 | Bishop Salvatore Matano | Bp. Dale J. Melczek Gary IN |
Our prayer this week is adapted from the Collect from the Mass for the Feast of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, and words by Pope Benedict XV when instituting the Feast:
Precious Jesus, the chief reason for this Feast of Your Eucharistic Heart is to commemorate our love of You in the mystery of the Eucharist. Encourage our priests to more and more to excite us, the faithful, to approach this sacred mystery with confidence. Inflame their hearts with that divine charity which consumed Your Sacred Heart when in Your infinite love You instituted the most Holy Eucharist, wherein Your Divine Heart guards and loves them by living with them, as they live and abide in You. For in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist You offer and give Yourself to them and us as victim, companion, nourishment, viaticum, and pledge of our future glory.
O Lord Jesus Christ, who has poured forth the riches of Thy love for men in instituting the Sacrament of the Eucharist, help our priests, we beseech Thee, to love Thy most loving Heart and ever make worthy use of so great a Sacrament: Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Saturday, June 18, 2022
This Sunday is the Feast of Corpus Christi. The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. If you are lucky enough to be in an area that will be having a Eucharistic Procession on Sunday, go and participate, especially as we head into this National Year of Eucharistic Revival. Tomorrow morning here in the Diocese of Rochester, Bishop Matano (who we will be praying for tomorrow as well) will celebrate Mass at 10:00 at Corpus Christi Church, followed by a Eucharistic procession. Join them if you can. All are welcome.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 6/19 | All Missionaries | Bp. Salvatore Matano Rochester NY |
| MONDAY 6/20 | Fr. Kevin Murphy | Bp. James F. McCarthy New York NY |
| TUESDAY 6/21 | Fr. Thomas Nellis | Bp. Robert J. McClory Gary IN |
| WEDNESDAY 6/22 | Fr. Timothy Niven | Bp. John B. McCormack Manchester NH |
| THURSDAY 6/23 | Fr. Justin Miller | Persecuted and Troubled Bishops |
| FRIDAY 6/24 | Fr. William McGrath | Bp. Timothy A. McDonnell Springfield MA |
| SATURDAY 6/25 | Fr. Symon Peter Ntaivia | Bp. Robert W. McElroy San Diego CA |
Onepeterfive.com summarizes it this way: “On Corpus Christi, we remember and again celebrate a true and lasting miracle. Think about it, we can receive the flesh and blood of Our God! We can truly receive our Creator in a way so that we might have life within us. The Institution of the Eucharist changed the world. We must contemplate this miracle before receiving Our Lord at every single Mass. How can we not share the sentiments of Archbishop Sheen who said, “The greatest love story of all time is contained in a tiny, white Host”?”
Our prayer this week:
Jesus Christ, You give us Your Body and Blood as food for our journey. You are with us always, in such an intimate way. Make our priests humble enough to continue to experience wonder at Your gift of Body and Blood to us, and then embolden them to share that wonder and joy with us by the way they preach and live. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, June 12, 2022
Happy Trinity Sunday.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 6/5 | Fr. Anthony Mugavero | Bp. Gregory John Mansour Brooklyn NY |
| MONDAY 6/6 | Fr. Joseph Martuscello | Bp. John R. Manz Chicago IL |
| TUESDAY 6/7 | Fr. Steven Lape | Bp. Dominic A. Marconi Newark NJ |
| WEDNESDAY 6/8 | Fr. Thomas Mull | Bp. Robert W. Marshall Alexandria LA |
| THURSDAY 6/9 | All Deacons | International Bishops |
| FRIDAY 6/10 | Fr. Francis Jones | Bp. Joseph F. Martino Scranton PA |
| SATURDAY 6/11 | Fr. John Mulligan | Bp. James Massa Brooklyn NY |
Our prayer this week is adapted from a treatise on the Gospel of St. Matthew by St. Chromatius, bishop, from yesterday’s Office of Readings:
Jesus, if we fail to live in the light, we shall, to our condemnation and that of others, be veiling over and obscuring by our infidelity the light men so desperately need. So much more so is this true for our priests! As we know from Scripture, the man who received the talent should have made it produce a heavenly profit, but instead he preferred to hide it away rather than put it to work and was punished as he deserved. You have given our priests the talents. Help them to use them to produce heavenly profit in themselves and us.
That brilliant lamp which was lit for the sake of salvation should always shine in them, for they have the lamp of the heavenly commandment and spiritual grace, to which David referred: Your law is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Solomon also says this about it: For the command of the law is a lamp.
Therefore, they must not hide this lamp of law and faith. Rather, they must set it up in the Church, as on a lampstand, for the salvation of many, so that we may enjoy the light of Truth itself and all believers may be enlightened. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, June 5, 2022
Today is Pentecost Sunday, the Birthday of the Church.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 6/5 | Pope Francis | Bp. Edward C. Malesic Cleveland OH |
| MONDAY 6/6 | Fr. Steven Lewis | Bp. David J. Malloy Rockford IL |
| TUESDAY 6/7 | Fr. Joseph Maurici | Bp. Francis I. Malone Shreveport LA |
| WEDNESDAY 6/8 | Fr. Martin Truong | Bp. Richard J. Malone Buffalo NY |
| THURSDAY 6/9 | Fr. Walter Cushing | Deceased Bishops |
| FRIDAY 6/10 | Fr. Peter Morello | Bp. W. Francis Malooly Wilmington DE |
| SATURDAY 6/11 | Fr. Peter Mottola | Abp. Henry J. Mansell Hartford CT |
Our prayer this week is adapted from this morning’s Office of Readings, from the concluding prayer and from a letter by Saint Boniface, bishop and martyr, whose feast we also celebrate today:
Holy Spirit, let our priests stand fast in what is right and prepare their souls for trial. Let them wait upon God’s strengthening aid and say to him: O Lord, you have been our refuge in all generations. Let them trust in Him who has placed this burden upon them. What they themselves cannot bear let them bear with the help of Christ. For He is all-powerful and He tells us: My yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Let them continue the fight on the day of the Lord. The days of anguish and of tribulation have overtaken them; if God so wills, let them and us die for the holy laws of our fathers, so that we may deserve to obtain an eternal inheritance with them. Let them be neither dogs that do not bark nor silent onlookers nor paid servants who run away before the wolf. Instead let them be careful shepherds watching over Christ’s flock. Let them preach the whole of God’s plan to the powerful and to the humble, to rich and to poor, to men of every rank and age, as far as God gives them the strength, in season and out of season, as Saint Gregory writes in his book of Pastoral Instruction.
Lord, Your martyr Boniface spread the faith by his teaching and witnessed to it with his blood. By the help of his prayers keep our priests loyal to the faith and give them courage to profess it in their lives. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, May 29, 2022
Happy Seventh Sunday of Easter.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 5/29 | Deceased Priests | Bp. Robert N. Lynch St. Petersburg FL |
| MONDAY 5/30 | Fr. Michael Merritt | Bp. Christie A. Macaluso Hartford CT |
| TUESDAY 5/31 | Fr. William Michatek | Bp. Denis J. Madden Baltimore MD |
| WEDNESDAY 6/1 | Fr. Matthew Walter | Bp. Robert P. Maginnis Philadelphia PA |
| THURSDAY 6/2 | Fr. Daniel L. White | Pope Francis & Pope Emer. Benedict XVI |
| FRIDAY 6/3 | Vocations & Seminarians | Card. Roger M. Mahony Los Angeles CA |
| SATURDAY 6/4 | Bishop Salvatore Matano | Card. Adam J. Maida Detroit MI |
Our prayer this week is adapted from the Gospel reading for today, John 17:20-24:
Dearest Lord, You prayed to the Father, ”I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one. As You, Father, are in Me and I am in You, may they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. The glory that You have given Me I have given them, so that they may be one, as We are one, I in them and You in Me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me.” Make the fire of that love burn in the hearts of our priests that they may remember their mission – help us to believe in You and Your teachings, that we may also be with You and them in the Kingdom for eternity. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, May 22, 2022
Happy Sixth Sunday of Easter and the Feast of St. Rita of Cassia. Then on Thursday we will celebrate the Ascension of the Lord.
(I tried to pull up the Monthly Prayers for Priest calendar for Rochester, but was unable to access the page and unfortunately had not printed the quarterly calendar. Luckily, I had a total list of priests in the Diocese handy. We will continue to pray from that list until the Rochester calendar is back online.)
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 5/22 | Fr. Joseph Martuscello | Bp. Elias Lorenzo OSB Newark NJ |
| MONDAY 5/23 | Fr. Joseph Maurici | Abp. William E. Lori Baltimore MD |
| TUESDAY 5/24 | Fr. Michael Mayer | Bp. Basil H. Losten Stamford CT |
| WEDNESDAY 5/25 | Fr. Joseph McCaffrey | Bp. Paul S. Loverde Arlington VA |
| THURSDAY 5/26 | Fr. William McGrath | Persecuted & Troubled Bishops |
| FRIDAY 5/27 | Fr. Kevin McKenna | Abp. George J. Lucas Omaha NE |
| SATURDAY 5/28 | Fr. Daniel L. McMullin | Bp. Douglas J. Lucia Syracuse NY |
Our prayer this week is adapted from this morning’s Office of Readings, from the commentary on the second letter to the Corinthians by Saint Cyril of Alexandria, bishop:
Lord Jesus Christ, our priests who have a sure hope, guaranteed by the Spirit, that they will rise again lay hold of what lies in the future as though it were already present. Help them to hold fast to Your teachings and to say: “Outward appearances will no longer be our standard in judging other men. Our lives are all controlled by the Spirit now, and are not confined to this physical world that is subject to corruption. The light of the Only-begotten has shone on us, and we have been transformed into the Word, the source of all life. While sin was still our master, the bonds of death had a firm hold on us, but now that the righteousness of Christ has found a place in our hearts we have freed ourselves from our former condition of corruptibility.” Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Saturday, May 14, 2022
About once a year or so, many dioceses gather their priests together for a Convocation, which means “calling together”. This is a time for them to join in fellowship with their brother priests and strengthen each other in their vocations. It’s important for them to be able to have this time together to learn with, and lean on, each other.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 5/15 | All Deacon | Bp. John M. LeVoir New Ulm MN |
| MONDAY 5/16 | Fr. John Loncle | Bp. Bruce Lewandowski CSWsR Baltimore MD |
| TUESDAY 5/17 | Fr. Bernard Maloney | Bp. Peter A. Libasci Manchester NH |
| WEDNESDAY 5/18 | Fr. Kevin Mannara | Abp. Jerome E. Listecki Milwaukee WI |
| THURSDAY 5/19 | Fr. Christopher Manuele | International Bishops |
| FRIDAY 5/20 | Fr. Joseph Martuscello | Bp. Robert J. Lomardo CFR Chicago IL |
| SATURDAY 5/21 | Fr. Joseph Marcoux | Bp. Steven J. Lopes Houston TX |
Our prayer this week is adapted from a song, “I Call You Brothers” and a prayer, “Prayer for Priestly Fraternity”, both by Fr. Bill Quinlivan. I thank you again, Fr. Bill, for your continued inspiration!
When You call our priests ‘brothers’ You’re reminding them that, as with Your apostles, You go where they do. May all priests intercede for one another through trials. Help them to find fraternity, and trust You to keep them on Your path.
Lead them to speak Your Word and shine Your light. You have anointed them. Make them joyful servants, telling the world Your good news is true. Don’t let them forget Your plan, keep them in Your hands. Show them Your power, let them see what You can do. You make all things new.
Guide them to seek Your will, find Your peace, and pursue holy Mass. When they are humbled, broken and tired, pour Your Grace out on them. We pray they will always remember their ordination day. We’ll hear what You say when they walk Your way.
Call them to You for restoration, recreation and retreat, as You rested with Your first-called. A time in prayer can be so sweet.
Please bless their Convocation. Christ Jesus, You share Your ministry of service, sacrament and preaching the word with our ordained brothers. Your commandment to love one another, Your example of prayer, ministry, meals and leisure with Your apostles, as well as Your teaching on fraternal correction, each give them ways to live as brothers. We praise You for the priests who already share holy friendship. Please continue to form them in Your image to celebrate their common call. Give courage to each of them to reach out to those struggling in their ministry or vocation. Make them attentive to brother priests suffering illness or the effects of aging. And may they joyfully welcome the newly ordained. Amen.
God bless you,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, May 8, 2022
Happy Good Shepherd Sunday! This is one of my favorite titles for Jesus. More than just leading us to where we should go – and certainly not forcing us – He accompanies us, gently and lovingly guiding us.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 5/8 | Fr. James Lawlor | Bp. Larry J. Kulick Greensburg PA |
| MONDAY 5/9 | Fr. William Laird | Abp. Joseph E. Kurtz Louisville KY |
| TUESDAY 5/10 | Fr. Charles Latus | Bp. Milan Lach SJ Parma OH |
| WEDNESDAY 5/11 | Fr. William Leone | Bp. Dominick John Lagonegro New York NY |
| THURSDAY 5/12 | Fr. Steven Lewis | Deceased Bishops |
| FRIDAY 5/13 | Fr. Christopher Linsler | Bp. Terry R. LaValley Ogdensburg NY |
| SATURDAY 5/14 | Fr. Frank Lioi | Bp. John J. Leibrecht Springfield-Cape Girardeau MO |
Our prayer this week is from a sixth century collect, modified from Prayers of the Middle Ages, edited by J. Manning Potts:
O Lord Jesus Christ, good Shepherd of the sheep, You came to seek the lost and gather them to Your fold. Then You gave us priests to continue shepherding. But they are people like us. Have compassion on those priests who have wandered from You. Feed those who hunger, physically, emotionally or spiritually. Make the weary priests lie down in Your pastures, bind up those who are broken in heart, and strengthen those who are weak. Remember that they rely on Your care, find comfort in Your love, and abide in Your guidance to their lives’ end; for Your name’s sake. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, May 1, 2022
Happy Feast of St. Joseph the Worker.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 5/1 | Pope Francis | Bp. Barry C. Knestout Richmond VA |
| MONDAY 5/2 | Fr. Stephen Kraus | Bp. William E. Koenig Wilmington DE |
| TUESDAY 5/3 | Fr. Robert Kreckel | Bp. David Konderla Tulsa OK |
| WEDNESDAY 5/4 | Fr. Gerard Krieg | Bp. Joel M. Konzen SM Atlanta GA |
| THURSDAY 5/5 | Fr. Scott Kubinski | Pope Francis & Pope Emer. Benedict XVI |
| FRIDAY 5/6 | Fr. Vocations & Seminarians | Bp. Joseph R. Kopacz Jackson MS |
| SATURDAY 5/7 | Bishop Salvatore Matano | Bp. John M. Kudrick Parma OH |
Our prayer this week is from the booklet, “Favorite Prayers to St. Joseph” from TAN Books:
O illustrious patriarch St. Joseph, who carried the Infant Jesus in thy blessed arms and who, during the space of thirty years, lived in the most intimate familiarity with Him, take under thy powerful protection those whom He has clothed with His authority and honored with the dignity of His priesthood, whom He has charged to continue His mission, to preach His Gospel, and to dispense everywhere His graces and blessings. Sustain them in their fatigues and labors; console them in their pains; fortify them in their combats; but above all, keep far from them all the evils of sin. Obtain for them the humility of St. John the Baptist, the faith of St. Peter, the zeal and charity of St. Paul, the purity of St. John and the spirit of prayer and recollection of which thou, my dear Saint, art the model, so that, after having been on earth, the faithful dispensers of the Mysteries of thy foster Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, they may in Heaven receive the recompense promised to pastors according to the Heart of God. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, April 24, 2022
Happy Divine Mercy Sunday!
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 4/24 | Fr. Francis Jones | Bp. J. Gregory Kelly Dallas TX |
| MONDAY 4/25 | Fr. Matthew Jones | Bp. Carl A. Kemme Wichita KS |
| TUESDAY 4/26 | Fr. Phillip Judge | Bp. Arthur Kennedy Boston MA |
| WEDNESDAY 4/27 | Fr. Stanley Kacprzak | Bp. Donald J. Kettler St. Cloud MN |
| THURSDAY 4/28 | Fr. Stephen Karani | Persecuted & Troubled Bishops |
| FRIDAY 4/29 | Fr. Roy Kiggins | Bp. Gerald F. Kicanas Tucson AZ |
| SATURDAY 4/30 | Fr. Robert Kennedy | Bp. Louis Kihneman III Biloxi MS |
Our prayer this week:
Most Precious Jesus, You know that we are a sinful people. That is why You came to redeem us. Our priests are men as well, subject to the same concupiscence as the rest of us humans. Please pour down Your Divine Mercy on them. Turn their hearts always to You that they may reflect Your love and mercy to the world. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, April 17, 2022
Christus resurrexit! He has risen! Alleluia!
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 4/17 | All Missionaries | Bp. Peter J. Jugis Charlotte NC |
| MONDAY 4/18 | Fr. Frederick Helfrich | Bp. William J. Justice San Francisco CA |
| TUESDAY 4/19 | Fr. Peter Helfrich | Bp. David D. Kagan Bismarck ND |
| WEDNESDAY 4/20 | Fr. James Hewes | Bp. Francis Kalabat Southfield MI |
| THURSDAY 4/21 | Fr. Daniel Holland | International Bishops |
| FRIDAY 4/22 | Fr. Timothy Horan | Bp. Francis J. Kane Chicago IL |
| SATURDAY 4/23 | Fr. James Jaeger | Abp. James P. Keleher Kansas City KS |
Our prayer this week:
Lord Jesus Christ, You established the holy priesthood. You chose these men for Your ministry, to minister to Your people. We pray You give them strength and health to do the work You have for them to do. Keep them in Your loving embrace, and grant them peace and rest. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Saturday, April 9, 2022
Now we enter into Holy Week.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 4/10 | Inactive & Sabbatical Priests | Bp. Gary Janak San Antonio TX |
| MONDAY 4/11 | Fr. William Graf | Bp. Charles Michael Jarrell Lafayette LA |
| TUESDAY 4/12 | Fr. Joseph Hart | Bp. John J. Jenik New York NY |
| WEDNESDAY 4/13 | Fr. John Hayes | Bp. Daniel R. Jenky CSC Peoria IL |
| THURSDAY 4/14 | All Deacons | Deceased Bishops |
| FRIDAY 4/15 | Deceased Priests | Bp. William M. Joensen Des Moines IA |
| SATURDAY 4/16 | Fr. John Healy | Bp. James V. Johnston Jr. Kansas City-St. Joseph MO |
Our prayer this week is adapted from a prayer written by Viet Dietrich in the mid-16th century:
Lord God, heavenly Father, in Your fatherly grace You did not spare Your only Son but gave Him up to death on the cross. But before He endured His Passion, He instituted the priesthood so that we would have shepherds to lead us to Him. Pour Your Holy Spirit into the hearts of our priests, that they may find their highest comfort in Your grace. Protect them from temptations to sin, and help them patiently bear whatever hardships may come, so that through You they may have eternal life. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, April 3, 2022
Happy Feast of St. Julie Bullard on Friday, April 8. She taught the faith to local children her entire life, as a child herself, and later when she was completely bed-ridden. During the French Revolution she single-handedly convinced her entire village to boycott the schismatic priest who had taken over the local church.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 4/3 | Pope Francis | Bp. Ibrahim N. Ibrahim Southfield MI |
| MONDAY 4/4 | Fr. Michael Fowler | Bp. Josu Iriondo New York NY |
| TUESDAY 4/5 | Fr. Ronald Gaesser | Bp Fernando Isern Pueblo CO |
| WEDNESDAY 4/6 | Fr. John Gagnier | Abp. Michael O. Jackels Dubuque IA |
| THURSDAY 4/7 | Fr. Jeffrey Galens | Pope Francis & Pope Emer. Benedict XVI |
| FRIDAY 4/8 | Fr. John Gathenya | Bp. Sam G. Jacobs Houma-Thipodaux LA |
| SATURDAY 4/9 | Fr. Paul Gitau | Bp. Sarhad Jammo Southfield MI |
Our prayer this week:
St. Julie Bullard, you know the strength it takes to remain true to the faith in the face of wide spread pressure and complacency. You once told a friend, “For, in conscience, we must not leave our brethren in error. If they go to the instructions of an intruder, they are automatically out of the way of salvation…” Intercede with our Precious Lord, Jesus Christ, that our priests be protected from falling into the errors of such “intruders” and instead continue to lead us on the path of righteousness. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, March 27, 2022
Happy Laetare Sunday! Rejoice!
With all of the craziness and difficulties of this world, let us each take time to also rejoice in all that is good.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 3/27 | Deceased Priests | Bp. William L. Higi Lafayette IN |
| MONDAY 3/28 | Fr. Raymond Fleming | Bp. Michael J. Hoeppner Crookston MN |
| TUESDAY 3/29 | Fr. Jesus Flores-Rivera | Bp. Martin D. Holley Memphis TN |
| WEDNESDAY 3/30 | Fr. John Forni | Bp. Howard J. Hubbard Albany NY |
| THURSDAY 3/31 | All Missionaries | Abp. Alfred C. Hughes New Orleans LA |
| FRIDAY 4/1 | Vocations & Seminarians | Bp. Walter A. Hurley Gaylord MI |
| SATURDAY 4/2 | Bishop Salvatore Matano | Bp. Donald J. Hying Madison WI |
Our prayer this week:
Heavenly Father, You know that during times of penance and trials, we Your children need to be able to see the good as well. Today, we pray for all of Your holy priests who guide us daily to You. We pray in thanksgiving for those priests who You have healed from their illnesses, and those who You have shown how to bear joyful witness by carrying their crosses of illness. And we thank You for welcoming so many faithful priests into their eternal reward, where they continue to intercede for us. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Saturday, March 19, 2022
Happy Feast of St. Joseph!
What a beautiful weekend. I’m spending it at the St. Thomas More House of Prayer at a retreat on the ‘Spiritual Motherhood of Priests’. Just as our priests are called to be fathers to us, so we are called to be spiritual mothers to them.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 3/20 | Fr. Thomas Dugan | Abp. Bernard A. Hebda Saint Paul & Minneapolis MN |
| MONDAY 3/21 | Fr. William Endres | Bp. Robert F. Hennessey Boston MA |
| TUESDAY 3/22 | Fr. Peter Enyan-Boadu | Bp. Richard G. Henning Rockville Center NY |
| WEDNESDAY 3/23 | Fr. Thomas Erdle | Bp. Robert J Hermann St. Louis MO |
| THURSDAY 3/24 | Fr. Richard Farrell | Persecuted & Troubled Bishops |
| FRIDAY 3/25 | Fr. James Fennessy | Bp. Ronald A. Hicks Joliet IL |
| SATURDAY 3/26 | Fr. John Firpo | Bp. Richard Higgins Military Services USA |
Our prayer this week is adapted from a sermon by St. Bernadine of Siena:
Good St. Joseph, you were the trustworthy guardian and protector of God’s greatest treasures, namely, His divine Son and Mary, the Immaculate Mother. Our priests are here in persona Christi. Please guard and protect them for us as well.
Remember them, Saint Joseph, and plead for them to your foster-child. Ask your most holy bride, the Virgin Mary, to look kindly upon them, since she is the mother of Him who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns eternally. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, March 13, 2022
Happy Second Sunday of Lent.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 3/13 | Fr. Joseph DeMaio | Bp. Joseph G. Hanefeldt Grand Island NE |
| MONDAY 3/14 | Fr. John DeSocio | Bp. Richard C. Hanifen Colorado Springs CO |
| TUESDAY 3/15 | Fr. Edward Dillon | Abp. Jerome G. Hanus OSB Dubuque IA |
| WEDNESDAY 3/16 | Fr. Hoan Dinh | Bp. Bernard J. Harrington Winona-Rochester MN |
| THURSDAY 3/17 | Fr. William Donnelly | International Bishops |
| FRIDAY 3/18 | Fr. Clifford Dorkenoo | Bp. Joseph H. Hart Cheyenne WY |
| SATURDAY 3/19 | Fr. Joseph Martuscello | Abp. Gregory J. Hartmayer OMF Conv. Atlanta GA |
Our prayer this week is adapted from a sermon by St. Pope Leo the Great:
Lord Jesus, You revealed Your glory in the presence of Your apostles Peter, James and John. You did this in part to remove the scandal of the cross from the hearts of Your disciples and to prevent the humiliation of Your voluntary suffering from disturbing the faith of the foundling Church. May our priests today look again to Your glory to strengthen them in the face of what this world views as a reason for ridicule, our faith in You. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, March 6, 2022
Good morning everyone!
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 3/6 | Pope Francis | Bp Robert E. Guglielmone Charleston SC |
| MONDAY 3/7 | Fr. Walter Cushing | Bp Curtis J. Guillory SVD Beaumont TX |
| TUESDAY 3/8 | Fr. Gerard D’Souza | Bp. Thomas J. Gumbleton Detroit MI |
| WEDNESDAY 3/9 | Fr. Bernard Dan | Bp. Yousif Habash Bayonne NJ |
| THURSDAY 3/10 | Fr. B. Nathan Davis | Deceased Bishops |
| FRIDAY 3/11 | Fr. August Deasio | Bp. Jeffrey R. Haines Milwaukee WI |
| SATURDAY 3/12 | Fr. Albert Delmonte | Bp. Donald F. Hanchon Detroit MI |
Our prayer this week is a A Prayer for the Physical Protection of Priests and Seminarians by Kathleen Beckman, L.H.S.:
Most Holy Trinity, we graciously beseech you to surround priests and seminarians with the physical protection they need in a world that is increasingly hostile towards them. Lord Jesus, Eternal High Priest, you experienced first the physical blows of hatred against your priesthood to the point of death. Have mercy upon your brother priests who are at great risk of physical harm, even to the point of death. We ardently implore you to surround your priests and seminarians with mighty angelic protection against all forms of hate. We implore you to guide their footsteps and protect their coming and going, their parishes, rectories and bedrooms against all malicious harm. May your Precious Blood form an impenetrable defense around every priest and seminarian! We pray also for the priests and seminarians that have suffered harm or unnatural death due to religious persecution and violent crime. In your great goodness you make fruitful their ultimate sacrifice for the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. Beloved Mary, Mother of all priests and seminarians, please wrap your mantle of grace around these chosen men of God as a blanket of protection. And as you protected the one Eternal High Priest with a wall of maternal prayer and charity, please guard all priests and seminarians from physical harm. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, February 27, 2022
Happy Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 2/20 | Fr. Richard Crawley | Bp. Roger W. Gries OSB Cleveland OH |
| MONDAY 2/21 | Inactive & Sabbatical Priests | Bp. James A. Griffin Columbus OH |
| TUESDAY 2/22 | Fr. Charles Curran | Bp. Jeffrey S. Grob Chicago IL |
| WEDNESDAY 2/23 | All Deacons | Bp. Edward M. Grosz Buffalo NY |
| THURSDAY 2/24 | Fr. Donald Curtiss | Pope Francis & Pope Emer. Benedict XVI |
| FRIDAY 2/25 | Vocations & Seminarians | Bp. Robert D. Gruss Saginaw MI |
| SATURDAY 2/26 | Bp. Salvatore Matano | Abp. Borys Andrij Gudziak Philadelphia PA |
Our prayer this week is adapted from the priests’ Formula of Intent:
May our priests have the intention to celebrate Mass and to consecrate the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the Rite of Holy Roman Church, to the praise of almighty God and all the Church triumphant, for their good and that of all the Church militant, for all who have commended themselves to their prayers in general and in particular, and for the welfare of Holy Roman Church. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Saturday, February 19, 2022
Happy Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 2/20 | Fr. William Coffas | Bp. Francisco Gonzalez SF Washington DC |
| MONDAY 2/21 | Fr. John Colacino | Bp. Gregory W. Gordon Las Vegas NV |
| TUESDAY 2/22 | Fr. Daniel Condon | Bp. John R. Gorman Chicago IL |
| WEDNESDAY 2/23 | Fr. Patrick Connor | Bp. Rene H. Gracida Corpus Christi TX |
| THURSDAY 2/24 | Fr. Brian Cool | Persecuted & Troubled Bishops |
| FRIDAY 2/25 | Fr. William Cosgrove | Msgn. Douglas L. Grams New Ulm MN |
| SATURDAY 2/26 | Fr. Michael Costik | Card. Wilton D. Gregory Washington DC |
Our prayer this week is adapted from a prayer of St. Augustine:
Breathe in our priests, O Holy Spirit, that their thoughts may all be holy.
Act in them, O Holy Spirit, that their work, too, may be holy.
Draw their hearts, O Holy Spirit, that they love but what is holy.
Strengthen them, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy.
Guard them, then, O Holy Spirit, that they always may be holy. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Saturday, February 12, 2022
Happy Feast of St. Valentine on Monday this week. May we all spend our day, and all days, showing Christ’s redeeming love to those around us. It is also the Feast of Sts. Cyril and Methodius. As we are spreading Christ’s love, let us ensure we are finding ways to make that message understood.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 2/13 | Fr. Lee Chase | Bp. Joseph J. Gerry OSB Portland ME |
| MONDAY 2/14 | Deceased Priests | Bp. Gerald A. Gettlefinger Evansville in |
| TUESDAY 2/15 | All Missionaries | Bp. Ronald M. Gilmore Dodge City KS |
| WEDNESDAY 2/16 | Fr. Augustine Chumo | Bp. Raymond E. Goedert Chicago IL |
| THURSDAY 2/17 | Bishop Emer. Matthew Clark | International Bishops |
| FRIDAY 2/18 | All Deacons | Bp. James Golka Colorado Springs CO |
| SATURDAY 2/19 | Fr. Peter Clifford | Abp. Jose H. Gomez Los Angeles CA |
Our prayer this week:
Lord, You have called our priests to the priestly ministry in a particular moment of history, as in the times of the first Apostles, when You desire that all Christians, and in a particular way Your priests, might be witnesses to the wonders of God and the strength of Your Spirit.
Allow them to be witnesses to the dignity of human life, to the grandeur of love, and to the power of the ministry which they have received. May their entire lives be dedicated to You: for love, only for love, and for a higher love.
May their commitment to celibacy born of Your mission, be a joyful and happy affirmation and a total dedication of themselves to others in the service of Your Church. Give them strength in their weakness, and gratitude for their steadfastness.
Holy Mother Mary, greatest and most wonderful mother of all time, grant that they may entrust their lives to you each day. Mary, font of generosity and dedication, grant that they may be joined with you at the foot of the greatest crosses of the world, experiencing the redeeming pain of the death of your Son, so that they might enjoy the triumph of the Resurrection for eternal life. Amen
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Saturday, February 5, 2022
We all know that the Church is universal, and we are all part of one family. Each parish is a small example of the whole Church. Right now there are an unknown number of priests worldwide who are unable to celebrate Mass with and administer the sacraments to their parishioners, because they have Covid or other illnesses. We pray for their healing. We are grateful for other priests who are willing and able to step in to help. Let’s also pray for vocations and seminarians so we will have more holy priests.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 2/6 | Pope Francis | Bp. Victor B. Galeone St. Augustine FL |
| MONDAY 2/7 | Fr. Lance Gonyo | Bp. Daniel E. Garcia Monterey CA |
| TUESDAY 2/8 | Fr. Roman Caly | Abp. Gustavo Garcia-Siller MSpS San Antonio TX |
| WEDNESDAY 2/9 | Fr. Brian Carpenter | Bp. James H. Garland Marquette MI |
| THURSDAY 2/10 | Fr. Joseph Catanise | Deceased Bishops |
| FRIDAY 2/11 | Fr. Scott Caton | Bp. John R. Gaydos Jefferson City MO |
| SATURDAY 2/12 | Fr. Thomas Celso | Bp. Louis E. Gelineau Providence RI |
Our prayer this week:
O God, whose Only Begotten Son bore the weight of human suffering for our salvation, hear the prayers of Your Church for our sick priests and deliver them from this time of trial. Open their ears and their hearts to the voice of your Son: Be not afraid, for I am with you always. Give them the faith to endure this hour, that they and we might gather once again to praise Your Name in the heart of Your Church, delivered from all distress and confident in Your mercy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
May God protect our beloved priests through this time of trial.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, January 30, 2022
This Wednesday we will be celebrating the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. The presentation of Love personified. And He teaches us what love truly is. “Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, it is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.” (1Cor 13:4-6)
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 1/30 | Fr. Alexander Bradshaw | Bp. Daniel E. Flores Brownsville TX |
| MONDAY 1/31 | Fr. Richard Brickler | Bp. John T. Folda Fargo ND |
| TUESDAY 2/1 | Fr. Philip Brockmyre | Bp. Roger J. Foys Covington KY |
| WEDNESDAY 2/2 | Fr. Michael Brown | Bp. William E. Franklin Davenport IA |
| THURSDAY 2/3 | Fr. Timothy Brown | Pope Francis & Pope Emer. Benedict XVI |
| FRIDAY 2/4 | Vocations & Seminarians | Bp. Timothy E. Freyer Orange CA |
| SATURDAY 2/5 | Bishop Salvatore Matano | Bp. Ronald W. Gainer Harrisburg PA |
Our prayer this week:
Heavenly Father, You sent Jesus to us to show us true Love. We frequently get it wrong, and we often fall short. Thank You for giving us holy priests who also do “not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoice with the truth,” and with their joy in the Truth point us back to Your path when we stray. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Saturday, January 22, 2022
What a great week this will be! How can we call it “ordinary time” when we have such a powerful string of feasts and memorials to celebrate this week? We start with St. Marianne Cope on Sunday, then St. Francis de Sales and then the Conversion of St. Paul. On Wednesday we have Sts. Timothy & Titus, then St. Angela Merici, St. Thomas Aquinas and finally, St. Aquilinus on Saturday.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 1/23 | Fr. Paul Bonacci | Bp. Robert W. Finn Kansas City-St. Joseph MO |
| MONDAY 1/24 | Fr. Dennis Bonsignore | Abp. Joseph A. Fiorenza Galveston-Houston TX |
| TUESDAY 1/25 | Deceased Priests | Bp. Michael W. Fisher Buffalo NY |
| WEDNESDAY 1/26 | Fr. Robert Bourcy | Bp. Robert J. Fisher Detroit MI |
| THURSDAY 1/27 | Fr. James Boyle | Persecuted & Troubled Bishops |
| FRIDAY 1/28 | Fr. Robert Bradler | Bp. Michael J. Fitzgerald Philadelphi PA |
| SATURDAY 1/29 | All Missionaries | Bp. John W. Flesey Newark NJ |
Our prayer this week is a Prayer for Holy Priests, found at Our Lady of the Rosary Library (www.olrl.org):
My Dear Jesus, You desire that we pray the Lord of the harvest that He send zealous laborers into His harvest. Deign to raise up in Thy Church, and especially in this diocese, numerous and holy priests who, taking Thy Divine Heart as their Model, will in the exercise of their holy priesthood, promote the glory of Thy heavenly Father and the salvation of those souls whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy Precious Blood. Give us truly holy priests who, inflamed with the fire of Thy divine love, seek nothing but Thy greater glory and the salvation of souls.
O Mary, Queen of the clergy, pray for us; obtain for us many holy priests. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday, January 16, 2022
Happy Sunday of the Second Week of Ordinary Time.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 1/16 | Fr. Victor Bartolotta | Bp. Robert C. Evans Providence RI |
| MONDAY 1/17 | Fr. Michael Bausch | Bp. Shelton J. Fabre Houma-Thibodaux LA |
| TUESDAY 1/18 | Fr. Peter Bayer | Abp. John C. Favalora Miami FL |
| WEDNESDAY 1/19 | Fr. Richard Beligotti | Bp. David E. Fellhauer Victoria TX |
| THURSDAY 1/20 | Fr. Robert Beligotti | International Bishops |
| FRIDAY 1/21 | Fr. Philip Billotte | Bp. Daniel J. Felton Duluth MN |
| SATURDAY 1/22 | Fr. Sylvester Bioh | Bp. Jerome Feudjio Saint Thomas VI |
Our prayer this week is from St. Therese of the Child Jesus:
O Holy Father, may the torrents of love flowing from the sacred wounds of your divine Son bring forth priests like unto the beloved disciple John who stood at the foot of the cross; priests, who as a pledge of your own most tender love will lovingly give your divine Son to the souls of men.
May your priests be faithful guardians of your Church, as John was of Mary, whom he received into his house. Taught by this loving Mother who suffered so much on Calvary, may they display a mother’s care and thoughtfulness towards your children.
May they teach souls to enter into close union with you through Mary who, as the Gate of Heaven, is specially the guardian of the treasures of your divine Heart.
Give us priests who are on fire, and who are true children of Mary, priests who will give Jesus to souls with the same tenderness and care with which Mary carried the Little Child of Bethlehem.
Mother of sorrows and of love, out of compassion for your beloved Son, open in our hearts deep wells of love, so that we may console Him and give Him a generation of priests formed in your school and having all the tender thoughtfulness of your own spotless love. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday, January 9, 2022, The Baptism of the Lord
Happy Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 1/9 | Fr. Mitchell Zygadlo | Bp. John M. Dougherty Scranton PA |
| MONDAY 1/10 | Fr. William Amann | Bp. Michael G. Duca Baton Rouge LA |
| TUESDAY 1/11 | Fr. Anthony Amato | Bp. John P. Dunne Rockville Center NY |
| WEDNESDAY 1/12 | Fr. Ronald Antinarelli | Bp. Eusebio L. Elizondo MSpS Seattle WA |
| THURSDAY 1/13 | Fr. Frederick Asuming | Deceased Bishops |
| FRIDAY 1/14 | Fr. Theodore Auble | Bp. Felipe J. Estevez St. Augustine FL |
| SATURDAY 1/15 | Fr. William Barrett | Abp. Paul D. Etienne Seattle WA |
Our prayer this week:
Lord Jesus Christ, in order to fulfill all righteousness, You were baptized by John in the Jordan. On this feast day, may our priests be clothed with this same righteousness, that as Your baptized people, they, too, may be called beloved children of Your Father, and because of You, know He is well pleased with them; through Your mercy, now and forever. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday, January 2, 2022, The Solemnity of The Epiphany of the Lord
Happy New Year, everyone!
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 1/2 | Pope Francis | Card. Daniel N. Dinard Galveston-Houston TX |
| MONDAY 1/3 | Fr. Eugene Weis | Bp. John F. Doerfler Marquette MI |
| TUESDAY 1/4 | Fr. Robert Werth | Bp. Timothy L. Doherty Lafayette IN |
| WEDNESDAY 1/5 | Fr. Thomas Wheeland | Bp. John P. Dolan San Diego CA |
| THURSDAY 1/6 | Fr. Daniel E. White | Pope Francis & Pope Emer. Benedict XVI |
| FRIDAY 1/7 | Vocations & Seminarians | Card. Timothy M. Dolan New York NY |
| SATURDAY 1/8 | Fr. Daniel L. White | Bp. John A. Dooher Boston MA |
Our prayer this week is actually an adaptation of two prayers by two unknown authors:
A New Year’s Prayer
Lord, You make all things new. Bring hope alive in the hearts of our priests, and cause their Spirits to be born again. Thank you for this new year for all the potential it holds. Come and kindle in our priests a mighty flame so that in our time, many will see the wonders of God and live forever to praise Your glorious name. Come, Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Risen Christ, be with our priests today and always. Be their Light, their Guide, and their Comforter. Be their Strength, their Courage, and their Sanctifier. May this new year be a time of deep spiritual growth for them and us, a time of welcoming Your graces and gifts, a time for forgiving freely and unconditionally, a time for growing in virtue and goodness. Come, Holy Spirit, be with us and our priests today and always. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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Sunday, December 26, 2021
Happy Feast of the Holy Family.
The priests we are praying for in the Diocese of Rochester this week, and the bishops we are praying for in the United States, are:
| PRIESTS | BISHOPS | |
| SUNDAY 12/26 | All Deacons | Bp. Enrique Delgado Miami, FL |
| MONDAY 12/27 | Fr. Michael Upson | Bp. Edward M. Delilah Philadelphia PA |
| TUESDAY 12/28 | Fr. Peter Van Lieshout | Bp. Italo Dell’ Oro CRS Houston-Galveston TX |
| WEDNESDAY 12/29 | Fr. Louis Vasile | Bp. William J. Dendinger Grand Island NE |
| THURSDAY 12/30 | Fr. Walter Wainwright | Bp. J. Douglas Deshotel Lafayette LA |
| FRIDAY 12/31 | Fr. Matthew Walter | Bp. Frank J. Dewane Venice FL |
| SATURDAY 1/1 | Bishop Salvatore Matano | Bp. Nicholas DiMarzio Brooklyn NY |
Our prayer this week:
Lord Jesus, You came to earth as an infant, totally dependent on Your family to protect and care for You. May our priests, whether they are “baby priests” just beginning their priestly ministry, or priests who have ministered to us for decades, remember that they need care and protection just as You did. Any may they remember Your humility as they follow Your example here in our world. Amen.
God bless,
Laurie
https://prayersforpriests.com
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We began this ministry in May of 2019. Here are links to the archived prayer messages.
Prayers 2021
Prayers 2020
Prayers 2019
prayingforpriests.wordpress.com 