Pope Benedict has made this current year the Year of the Priest for the universal Church, and has asked us to pray for priests in a special way.  I can assure you that we priests need your prayers and appreciate them.  If we accomplish any good in our ministry, we know that it is the result of God’s grace and the prayers of the saints in heaven and the people of God here on earth.

In special recognition of this year, Bishop Serratelli has arranged for a relic of St. John Vianney to visit each parish. The relic of St. John Vianney will visit Saint Philip’s on November 14^th and 15^th.  It will used as a stimulus for prayer and blessing, and will be venerated at all the Masses.  In this visit of a physical remnant of the saint, he himself will draw close to us in a deep communion of spirit, inspiring us by his holiness and love, and praying for us through Christ to the Father.  

We have reprinted one of Bishop Serratelli’s columns from the Beacon about the significance of relics, and invite you to read the others at the diocesan website, www.patersondiocese.org.  I invite you to prepare yourself for this special graceful opportunity by learning more about relics and about St. John Vianney.  He points the way to Christ, who shows us the way to go home.