Priesthood Sunday
The Archdiocese of Springfield recently celebrated "Priesthood Sunday". What a beautiful gesture to have a Sunday dedicated specifically to show appreciation, reflect upon, affirm, and honor the priesthood. As the Book of Sirach exhorts us, "Honor God and respect the priest" (Sirach 7:31). This special day gave our community the perfect opportunity to offer both our Chaplain and our Confessor the honor and gratitude they truly deserve for their faithful service to God and His people.
Our chaplain and confessor, exceptional men of God, truly embody what it means to be shepherds and the heart of the priesthood, guiding and serving us with patience, love, and deep care. The chaplain was presented with a lovely basket filled with personalized thank-you cards, marked with thoughtful sentiments from each Sister, and nestled underneath were some sweet treats. He had no clue about the 'Thank Your Priest Day' when he thanked the nuns for the lovely basket and so exclaimed, "for no reason to boot." Honestly, we had hoped he would return the apple-crafted basket so we could use it for our confessor also. However, it seems he loved it so much that he kept it! In the end, we were forced to improvise and presented our dear confessor with a similar token of appreciation, though not quite in the same stylish basket.
This special Priesthood Sunday certainly was a perfect day to pause, reflect, and give thanks to the priests who bless our lives. We are truly grateful for their spiritual fatherhood, and we could not imagine our journey without their prayers, guidance, and presence.