 Vol. IV no 6 |
February 10, 2010 Catholic Church |
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The Curé d'Ars — World Day of the Sick — Appointments — |
The Curé d'Ars
During the Year for Priests, the Pope is inviting priests everywhere to consider the Curé d’Ars as a model. Some might wonder in what way is the life of a simple 19th-century village pastor relevant and inspiring for those living in the age of the Internet.
The Curé d’Ars was born three years before the French Revolution, and his life span coincided with the tumultuous years in which France was embroiled at that time. Everything was being questioned; the Enlightenment was the new religion. Today, we also live at a time in which our fundamental Christian values are being questioned and different outlooks and ways of life are being proposed. The Curé d’Ars can teach clerics how to be priests for our time. When it comes to preaching the Gospel, now is always the right time.
The Curé d’Ars promoted faith education. Catechesis for children, preaching, parish retreats were important elements of his ministry. He employed many different ways to propose Jesus Christ to his parishioners. He is able to help priests of today discern how to proclaim Jesus Christ with faith and conviction and how to face difficulties without becoming discouraged.
The Eucharist was at the centre of the life and ministry of the Curé d’Ars. Many long hours of the day and night were spent in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. He urged parishioners to go to church often and to pray before the Blessed Sacrament. The mass and Eucharistic adoration were central to his daily schedule. He would say: “Nothing is greater than the Eucharist”.
“The real secret to his pastoral success, wrote the Pope, was the love he had for the Eucharistic mystery, proclaimed, celebrated and experienced in his life, which translated into love for Christ’s flock, for Christians, and for anyone who was truly seeking God.” The Curé d’Ars can help priests to rediscover the pre-eminence of the Eucharist and to make it the centre of their lives and ministry.
The Curé d’Ars loved to be an instrument of God’s mercy. “Our sins are grains of sand in comparison with the immense mountain of God’s mercy.” Hearing confessions began to occupy more and more of his time. He had a unique way of greeting and comforting penitent sinners. Those who came to his confessional received the encouragement needed to abandon themselves to “the torrent of divine mercy”, to use his turn of phrase. He knew how to bring about heartfelt repentance. The Curé d’Ars can teach priests to make the sacrament of reconciliation a priority in their ministry and to become instruments of God’s mercy.
His life shows us that no matter who the priest is, he can let God work through him. It’s a reassuring thought. The life and ministry of the Curé d’Ars remind us that, at the heart of his pastoral commitment, the priest must be intimately united to Christ. If he sincerely loves Christ, the priest will be able to witness to this intimate friendship with the Lord, touch the hearts of those around him and open them up to God’s merciful love. Thus, he will be able to transmit enthusiasm and spiritual vitality to the faithful entrusted to him by the Lord.
World Day of the Sick
Each year, on Feb. 11, we celebrate the World Day of the Sick. Tomorrow afternoon, I will preside at a special Eucharistic celebration at Ma Maison Saint-Joseph. The team of Jour du Seigneur will be there to videotape the mass, which will be aired next Sunday at 10 a.m. on the French public network, Radio-Canada.
On the occasion of the World Day of the Sick, Pope Benedict published a message underlining the importance of pastoral services in health care. I want to reinforce his message, in which he exhorts priests, during this Year for Priests, to set aside time to bring spiritual care and comfort to the sick. He also asks that the infirm and homebound pray for priests so that their ministry may bear good spiritual fruit for the benefit of the Church.
In conclusion, I would like to salute the many volunteers who offer pastoral accompaniment to the sick and the elderly homebound and who show a great deal of commitment and generosity in doing so.
† Jean-Claude Turcotte
Archbishop of Montréal
Appointments in the Diocese
PASTORAL ANIMATION
M. Roland DEMERS, diacre permanent, animateur de pastorale à St-Enfant-Jésus (PAT), St-Marcel et St-Octave;
Abbé Franck Fresnel FAMBO, Parish Assistant at St-Luc / St. Luke;
Abbé Gilles LEFEBVRE, vicaire paroissial à St-Rémi et St-Vital.Mme Arlette MERCIER-SOUCY, vice-présidente de l'assemblée de fabrique de St-Maurice-de-Duvernay.
Renewal
Mr. Don LEWIS, Vice-Chairperson of the Assembly of the Fabrique of St. Anthony of Padua.
Renewal
P. Denis MARCHAND, c.s.c., animateur de pastorale à St-Laurent pour le Pavillon Saint-Joseph (Infirmerie des Sœurs de Ste-Croix).
February 5, 2010
Msgr Michel Parent, V.É.
Chancellor
SUMMER REPLACEMENT MINISTRY
Summer 2010
Upcoming events
Série de six conférences sulpiciennes
au Grand Séminaire de Montréal,
dans le cadre de l'Année Sacerdotale
« Viens et vois »
Soirée de prière pour les vocations
ENVIRONNEMENT ET SPIRITUALITÉ AVEC ANDRE BEAUCHAMP AU CENTRE LE PELERIN
