A prominent priest on a sainted priest for the ‘Year of Priests’
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- October
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When the pope first announced that June would begin the “Year for Priests,” I was kind of baffled.
I mean, priests play such a central role in the Catholic world—with the Eucharist and all—that it seemed odd (at least to me) that they would have their own year.
What’s next: The Year for Catholics?
But priests have had it rough in recent years and their numbers are dwindling. So why not have a Year for Priests to punch them up a bit.
On Tuesday (Oct. 6), one of those priests, a prominent fellow named Father George W. Rutler, will speak at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers about a very appropriate subject: Saint John Vianney. Vianney, a Frenchman who died in 1859, has been the patron saint of parish priests. But the pope has announced that Vianney is being upgraded to the patron saint of all priests.
Vianney is famous for his long service in a tiny French village—which was visited by thousands who wanted to hear him preach or have him hear their confessions.
Rutler, meanwhile (that’s him), hosts “Christ in the City” on EWTN and writes for many publications. He was once an Episcopal priest but turned to Rome in 1979 and was ordained by Cardinal Cooke in 1981. He once served as an associate pastor at St. Joseph’s in Bronxville and has served as pastor of the Church of Our Saviour on Park Avenue since Sept. 17, 2001.
His bio says that ”…in 1996 Governor George W. Bush made him an Honorary Texan.” Must be a good thing, right?
His presentation will be at 7:30 p.m. Free. Open to all. Call 914-968-6200, ext. 8292 for information.
This entry was posted
on Friday, October 2nd, 2009 at 12:00 pm by Gary Stern.
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The world of religion, we don't have to tell you, is vast. The purpose of this blog is for Stern to note, flag and comment on some of the more interesting religious developments on the scene – weighty and quirky, somber and laughable, far away and just down the road. He won't interpret Scripture, take sides in conflicts or judge anyone. But he will take advantage of the journalist's license to observe.
Fr. Rutler’s middle initial is “W” as the parish web site notes: http://www.oursaviournyc.org/. I don’t know how Catholic New York got it wrong…