Parishioners prepare for Priesthood Sunday NATCHEZ — Once again St. Mary Basilica Parish is recognizing the sacrifice and dedication of the priests who serve there and at the same time the call of all baptized persons to lives of ministry in the church on Priesthood Sunday, Oct. 27-28.
A special “St. Mary Service Day” begins on Saturday, Oct. 27, from 8 a.m. until noon. This event is being planned by the Community Service Commission to give all parishioners an opportunity to serve and to enjoy fellowship together.
“We will be sending teams of 4-5 people to the homes of our elderly or handicapped parishioners and neighbors to help in a variety of ways. Work to be done includes housecleaning, yard work, minor electrical, plumbing and carpentry repairs, moving furniture and other general needs,” said Amanda Jeansonne, chairperson.
Volunteers will meet at 8 a.m. at Cathedral School cafeteria to receive assignments and they will return in time for lunch and fellowship.
“On Sunday, Oct. 28, at the 10 a.m. Mass, we will include special intercessions of prayer for our priests, a congregational blessing of our priests and we will present Father David O’Connor, our pastor, with spiritual bouquet cards on which we have written a description of the service work we did on Saturday,” added Ruth McWilliams, programs coordinator for St. Mary.
Priesthood Sunday, Oct. 28, sponsored by the USA Council of Serra International, offers an opportunity for priests and parishioners to build a stronger working relationship. Together, they take an honest look at the challenges of the future and how they can collaborate to meet those challenges as a united force, organizers said.
“To be servants of God, we are called to be humble as Jesus himself was humble. On this, the 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time, the church in the United States observes Priesthood Sunday. Through the lens of the paschal mystery — that is, Christ’s own life, death, resurrection and subsequent Spirit-gift who unites us to God’s very self — all of the baptized are called to mission.
“Faithful servants, whether lay or ordained, recognize that life is a journey. None of us is perfect, which is why we seek God’s grace to mold our hearts into the image of Divine Love. We do not do this alone. We belong to a community called church.” (Excerpt from Parish Planning Guide, Priesthood Sunday web page.)
This is the third year St. Mary Basilica Parish has observed Priesthood Sunday and organizers urge all parishioners to become involved in the service day. .
