Discipleship impels clergy to become ‘true witnesses’ of Christ, Vatican official says

MANILA, Jan. 26, 2010—The theme adopted by the Church for the universal celebration of the year for priests is a call to all believers to consider how they can deepen and strengthen Christian discipleship, a Vatican top official said.

Claudio Cardinal Hummes, prefect of the Pontifical Congregation for the Clergy said discipleship impels the clergy to become “true witnesses and missionaries both to the flock of Christ” as the people await “the Word of Salvation, peace and consolation.”

The Vatican official said this in a message sent to Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales to greet the priests on the opening of the Second National Congress of the Clergy.

Quoting Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Hummes said the Year of for Priests is “meant to deepen the commitment of all priests to interior renewal for the sake of a stronger and more incisive witness to the Gospel in today’s world.”

He encouraged the clergy to actively participate in the spiritual and practical undertaking as he begged St. John Vianney’s intercession and asked the protection from the Blessed Mother of God, Mary, the Mother of Priests.

The ongoing clergy congress has so far gathered more than 5,500 priests, both diocesan and religious, at the World Trade Center in Manila to seek spiritual renewal and deepen commitment among the clergy in a five-day congress-retreat.

The second National Congress of the Clergy has adopted the theme of the Year for Priests, "Faithfulness of Christ, faithfulness of priests."

(Melo Acuna)