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UST Theological Society holds Week of Prayer for Priests

MANILA, August 1, 2009— The University of Sto. Tomas Theological Society has started this year's “Week of Prayer and Gratitude for Priests” with a Mass led by Batanes Bishop Camilo Gregorio at the UST chapel last Monday.

This Week of Prayer and Gratitude for Priests in line with the celebration of the church of the sesquicentennial anniversary of St John Mary Vianney and dedication for the “Year for Priests” will be holding a nine-day celebration that will culminate on the Feast of St. John Mary Vianney on Aug. 4.

The prayer for priests of St. Therese of the Child Jesus will be recited at the start of the class in their respective classrooms during the entire celebration of the religious event.

The image of the saint will be venerated by faculty, heads, and students of designated departments or colleges. It will stay in a particular department throughout the day and through prayer, incensing towards the image, and solemn procession, the image of St. John Vianney will be transferred to another department on the succeeding day.

Last Monday morning, the procession of the image accompanied by the students of the Faculties of Sacred Theology and Philosophy was initiated from the Central Seminary to the Ecclesiastical Faculties. It was venerated during the second day by the High School Department and by the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery on July 29.

In the afternoon, the procession of the image of St. John Vianney was led by the deans, professors, staff and students of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery to the administrative building. The image was brought back to the Central Seminary yesterday.

The Triduum Prayer in commemoration of the Cure of Ars, the patron of the secular priests, by the Central Seminary community will begin on August 1.

On Aug. 3, the campus ministry will facilitate a Tai'ze prayer particularly for our priests to students of the

university and thereafter a solemn vespers will be prayed which will be held in the Central Seminary gymnasium.

A Prayer Vigil will be held at the Central Seminary chapel by the representative students, deans and professors from different faculties, colleges, and institutes of the university on the culmination of the nine day liturgical event. Thereafter, a concelebrated mass will cap the Week of Prayer and Gratitude for Priests.

The active participation of the Thomasian community to the liturgical activities of the event expresses their appreciation and gratitude to the generosity and service of the priests. The community will be praying for priests to continue to give witness to the love of Christ and be strengthened to faithfully do their ministry as workers in the vineyard of the Lord, shepherding the faithful till the end of time.

(Vanessa Puno)