PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A PRIVATE DAY OF PRAYER FOR PRIESTS AND IS NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC


Statement by Reverend Joseph P. Gentili
Director of Continuing Formation for Diocesan Priesthood
Archdiocese of Philadelphia

At the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday morning, March 28th, in the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua invited all the priests of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to assemble at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary on Wednesday, April 24, 2002, for a Day of Atonement and Sanctification.

On this Day of Atonement and Sanctification, the priests will pray for victims of any kind of abuse, especially for their healing, for all the members of the Church which suffers whenever one of its members is hurt as well as for all priests.

This year, Pope John Paul II, in his message to priests on Holy Thursday, the day on which the anniversary of the Sacramental Priesthood is celebrated, asked priests to "...commit ourselves more fully to the search for holiness. We must beg God in his Providence to prompt a whole-hearted reawakening of those ideals of total self-giving to Christ which are the very foundation of the priestly ministry" (para.11). On April 24, the assembled priests will pray for holiness, beseeching Almighty God to "prompt a whole-hearted reawakening of those ideals of total self-giving..." within all priests.


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Editor's Note: Since this day of prayer is for priests, it is private and not open to the public or to the news media. There will be no admittance to Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. If you are interested in scheduling an interview with a priest at the conclusion of the Day of Atonement, please contact the Office for Communications at 215 - 587- 3747. A statement from Cardinal Bevilacqua regarding the Day of Atonement will be issued Wednesday morning.

Contact
Catherine L. Rossi
Director of Communications
215-587-3747