"we cannot forget the parents of our priests"

ASIA/PHILIPPINES - In the Year For Priests, 

Manila (Agenzia Fides) – A priest is a gift for the Church and a gift for his own family: in this spirit the Catholic Church in the Philippines, at the end of the Year for Priests, highlighted the fundamental role of the families of priests all over the world. Parents are crucial in the handing on of the faith to children; accepting to nurture the seed of a vocation born in the heart of their son; accompanying and supporting them in the process of formation during Seminary years; offering support and love and sharing a freely made decision, during the time of discernment; rejoicing when the final step of priestly consecration is accomplished. 
“A priest is always grateful to his parents, first of all for the gift of life itself but also for many other gifts received in the years of human and spiritual growth”, a Catholic priest in Manila told Fides, stressing the fact that priests should always give thanks to God for the gift of family and parents.
“We often tend to forget the many people for whom we should pray, whom we should thank and remember in our life as priests: our parents, our families, who play an important role in our priesthood ”, said Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, Archbishop of Manila. “Our parents teach us to pray; their example in the home teaches us virtues and gives us spiritual and material help ”, he continued, urging all priests to keep contact with their parents. Parents “return a son to the Lord, because they know that children belong not to parents but to God”, the Cardinal affirmed.
Cardinal Rosales, concluded by saying that the celebration of the Feasts of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Sacred Heart of Mary on the 11 and 12 June this year, was the most fitting way of celebrating and entrusting to God the parents of all priests and thanking them for what they have done. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 11/6/2010)

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