Editorial

Priests: Pray for more, support those we have

We are so fortunate in the Diocese of Madison. This Friday, May 23, three new priests will be ordained: Frs. Diego Cuevas, James (Jay) Poster, and Brian Wilk.

They are wonderful men - all "second career" vocations. They will bring many talents and experience as they serve the people of our diocese. I encourage people in our diocese to congratulate these new priests and pray for them as they begin ministry in our parishes.

Concern for future. But while we rejoice with their ordination, we also look to the future with concern. In 2004, there will be no ordinations to the priesthood. However, our first class of permanent deacons in the Diocese of Madison will be ordained that year.

While deacons, laity, and consecrated women and men can do much in the Catholic Church, we still need priests to celebrate Mass and administer many of the sacraments. Priests offer a special committed witness through their lives.

Pray for vocations. All of us must do our part to promote vocations to all church ministries, but especially the priesthood. One way to encourage vocations is through frequent prayer. Even Jesus urged his followers to plead to the "Lord of the harvest" to send laborers for the vineyard. This still applies to our world today.

This year, we have a special way to pray. Two priests from the Diocese of Peoria, Ill., have launched a Novena for Priests in the days leading up to the feast of Pentecost. The novena - nine days of prayers - will run from May 31 through June 8.

It is an attempt to "assist our brother priests" through recent difficulties, according to comments by one of its creators in a Catholic News Service article. "The past 18 months have been difficult for priests everywhere in the U.S.A.," said Fr. Christopher Layden of St. Patrick Parish, Ottawa, Ill., in reference to clergy sexual abuse scandals.

The priest said the effort began as a private novena prayed by himself, another priest, and a layperson. "We were . . . asking the Holy Spirit to guide us in what we can do to assist our brother priests," he said.

The three composed the novena prayer with another priest and Peoria Bishop Daniel R. Jenky gave it ecclesiastical approval. Columnist George Weigel helped publicize the novena in his recent column. The prayer can be found on a Web site, www.novenaforpriests.com.

Affirm priests. Although it is not specifically promoting vocations, the novena is affirming the priests we already have. They deserve our support as they struggle to serve more people. Instead of complaining about changes in Mass times or a priest not being available when we need him, let's try to be understanding and cooperate with our priests.

If we don't promote vocations or support those we now have, there will be even fewer priests in the future. Start today by praying for our newly ordained priests, our current priests, and an increase in vocations in the years ahead.

Mary C. Uhler, editor

Mailbag

	Mailbag policy We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. Limit letters to 200 words or less. All letters must be signed. Send letters to: Mailbag The Catholic Herald P.O. Box 44985 Madison, WI 53744-4985 Fax: 608-821-3071 E-mail: info@madisoncatholicherald.org

To the editor:

God has so blessed the United States of America that it is almost unimaginable that anyone would want to take out "one nation under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance. Millions of students in the western part of our country might not be able to voluntarily recite "one nation under God" when reciting the Pledge. Sadly, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Court in California declared this phrase unconstitutional. Organizations like the ACLU know that no one is forced to say this phrase, but they don't want anyone else to say it either.

Even each session of the Supreme Court begins with the sound of a gavel - and a call to order that concludes with these words: "God save the United States and this honorable Court."

Congress added the phrase "one nation under God" in 1954. This phrase first appeared in President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, which concluded that "this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that the government of the people, by the people shall not perish from the earth." The phrase does not represent any particular religion.

But there is something you can do! Call 1-877-989-2255 or go to www.aclj.org and "sign" the petition which asks the Supreme Court to take the case to uphold the constitutionality of this phrase which has been a part of the pledge for almost 50 years. The Supreme Court does not have to hear this case, so we need to encourage them.

Beverly Moran, Corinth, N.Y.