News/Events

October 3 - Archdiocese To Host The Sacred Relic Of The Heart Of St. John Vianney

BRIGHTON, MA - The Archdiocese of Boston will host the sacred relic of the heart of St. John Vianney October 12, 13 & 14. The night of October 12 is an evening of prayer, veneration and discussion for priests, deacons, seminarians and religious brothers at St. John's Seminary in Brighton. The events of October 13 & 14 are open to the public.

Rev. Daniel Hennessey, Vocations Director for the Archdiocese of Boston, said, "We are blessed to be able to share in and experience this important and sacred relic. St. John Vianney, Curé of Ars and the Patron of Priests, inspires us and calls us to pray for priests and a greater commitment to building a culture of vocations. St John Vianney had a great love for the Priesthood and helps us to see the need for priestly vocations"

The following is the schedule and some background on St. John Vianney.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2006
Private event for priests, deacons, seminarians and religious brothers;
Not open to the public
St. John's Seminary, Brighton, MA
12pm-10:00PM: Veneration of relic/priests available for confession
12:00PM: Procession of Relic into St. John's chapel and daytime prayer
2:30PM: Rosary for vocations led by seminarians
5:00PM: Exposition of Blessed Sacrament
5:30PM: Evening prayer led by Cardinal Sean (preached by Fr. Philippe Caratge, Moderator of Sanctuary of St. John Vianney)
6:00PM: Benediction followed by sandwiches and light refreshments
7:00PM: Talk on the life of St. John Vianney by Bishop Bagnard, Bishop of Belley-Ars, France
10:00PM: Night Prayer

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2006
Open to the public
St. Mary's Church, 133 School Street, Waltham, MA
4:00pm-10:00PM: Veneration of relic/priests available for confession
4:00PM: Procession of Relic into church and daytime prayer
5:30PM: Rosary for vocations
6:00PM: Talk on the life of St. John Vianney by Fr. Philippe Caratge, Moderator of Sanctuary of St. John Vianney
7:00PM: Mass celebrated by Bishop Bagnard, Bishop of Belley-Ars, France
10:00PM: Night Prayer led by Cardinal Sean O'Malley

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2006
Open to the public
Cathedral of the Holy Cross, 1400 Washington Street, Boston, MA
9:00am-2:00PM: Veneration of relic/priests available for confession
9:00AM: Mass 12:00PM: Rosary for vocations
2:00PM: Daytime Prayer and Final Blessing

For more information, please contact the Archdiocese of Boston Vocations Office at 617-746-5949 or via email at www.vocationsboston.org More on St. John Vianney The official website of the Ars Shrine (in French): http://www.arsnet.org/ Courtesy of <http://www.sjvroundrock.org/whowassjv.htm

Saint John Vianney. the Curé of Ars, was born at Dardilly, near Lyons, France, on 8 May, 1786; died at Ars, 4 August, 1869. The son of Matthieu Vianney and Marie Beluze he was ordained a priest in 1815. He was a man of great dedication to his call to be a priest and to serve his people. He preached in a very simple manner, had a great love of the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Mother and he had a special devotion to St. Philomena. Through his work as a confessor he brought about a spiritual renewal that touched not only the people of his parish but all of France. He regularly spent 14 to 18 hours a day in the confessional surviving on only a few hours of sleep and a diet of boiled potatoes. As the word spread his extraordinary abilities as a confessor, thousands, including bishops and aristocracy made the journey to Ars in order to receive his spiritual counsel.

Thus a man who started his life as one who very few thought would ever amount to anything became, by the time of his death in 1859, the vehicle for thousands of conversions. He is, for us today, an example of how God works wonderfully through those who dedicate their lives to him and who seek to do his will. John Vianney, a humble parish priest is regarded by the Church as one of its great figures simply because he was faithful.John Vianney was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1925. He is one of the only diocesan priests ever to be canonized. He is the patron saint of clergy throughout the world. His feast day is August 4. The Sacred Relic of the heart of St John Vianney will also be at The Cure of Ars Parish in Merritt, NY.

For more information, see web site www.thecatholicheart.org

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