I Guess This Means Rome Is A Healthy Diocese

"Let us be quite frank: the ability to cultivate vocations to the priesthood and the religious life is a sure sign of the health of a local Church." Papa Benedetto's response to a question on vocations during his meeting with the American Bishops at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, 16 April 2008.

On Sunday, 27 April 2008 Papa Benedetto ordained 29 men to the priesthood at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. 22 of these men were for the Archdiocese of Rome.

The other 7, while studying in Rome were from other parts of the world. 6 were from Roman Catholic (Latin Rite) Churches in Colombia, Chile, Paraguay, France, Haiti and India.

The 29th man to be ordained was Abuna (Father) Jarjis Robert Sayd (shown here after vesting) of Iraq for the Chaldean Catholic Church (Chaldean Church of Babylon) in Iraq. For anyone not familiar with the Chaldean Church, it is 1 of the sui iuris Eastern Branches of the Catholic Church. The rite they use is the East Syrian Rite (aka the Chaldean Rite, Assyrian Rite, or Persian Rite). While the majority of the eparchies (dioceses) are in Iraq & Iran, there are 2 in the USA & 1 in Australia for Oceania.

So this brings us back to what Papa Benedetto said about a healthy diocese. Given some dioceses have 0-2 seminarians ordained every year, 22 is definitely healthy. In his address at Vespers before the above Q & A he talked about what a good pastor, esp bishop was like. The bishop is the one who ensures a healthy diocese. Apparently the Bishop of Rome IS doing something right. But then he better be, since that bishop is Papa Benedetto.

After Mass, at the Regina Caeli, he shared the following thoughts about the newly ordained priests in his address to those present:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

A few moments ago we concluded a celebration in St. Peter’s Basilica in which I ordained 29 new priests. This is a time every year of special grace and festivity: The lifeblood of the Church and society has been renewed and recirculated in them. If the presence of priests is indispensable for the life of the Church, it is also something precious for all.

In the Acts of the Apostles one reads that the Deacon Philip brought the Gospel to a city of Samaria; the people adhered to his preaching with enthusiasm and also saw the miracles that he worked for the sick; “and there was great joy in that city” (Acts 8:8). As I reminded the new presbyters in the course of the liturgical celebration, this is the meaning of the Church’s missions and particularly the mission of priests: Sowing the joy of the Gospel in the world!

Where Christ is preached with the power of the Holy Spirit and he is accepted with an open soul, society, though it be full of problems, becomes a “city of joy” -- which is also the title of a book about the work of Mother Teresa in Calcutta. This then is the wish I have for the newly ordained priests, for whom I invite all to pray: That where they are sent they may spread the joy and hope that flow from the Gospel.

In truth this is also the message that I brought last week to the United States of America, on an apostolic voyage that had these words as its motto: “Christ our hope.” I give thanks to God for abundantly blessing this singular missionary experience of mine and deigning to make me an instrument of the hope of Christ for that Church and that country. At the same time I thank God because I too was confirmed in hope by American Catholics: Indeed, I discovered a tremendous vitality and a decisive will to live and to witness to the faith in Jesus. Next Wednesday, during the general audience, I will speak more about this visit of mine to America.

Today many Eastern Churches, following the Julian Calendar, celebrate the great solemnity of Easter. I would like to express my fraternal spiritual nearness to these brothers and sisters of ours. I cordially greet them, praying that the God who is one and three will confirm them in the faith, fill them with the splendorous light that emanates from the resurrection of the Lord and to comfort them in the difficult situations that they often find themselves living and witnessing to the Gospel. I invite all to join with me in invoking the Mother of God, that the road of dialogue and collaboration that was started upon sometime ago will soon lead to a more complete communion among all the disciples of Christ, that they may be a luminous sign of hope for all humanity.