Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Over the last month, the family rosary has been a frequent subject. You’ve heard Fr. Brendan and I encourage this prayer every Sunday, and in a preview of things to come, be prepared, because we’ll continue inviting you to pray the rosary as a family with some regularity! Looking back on this month, I’d like to share something that I found rising in my heart with some regularity: prayer for priests.

Early in the month of May, we celebrated the World Day of Prayer for Vocations (you can still find a prayer card for vocations at each door of the church). As we prayed that day for vocations and I offered my rosary that day with the special request that the Blessed Mother would inspire vocations to the priesthood from the sons of our parish, I was struck by the number of families in our parish who are related to a priest. I know of at least six families in the parish who have a priest brother, uncle, cousin, or son. That is no small blessing!

I recently had a chance to speak to the priests of the Diocese of Portland, ME at their annual convocation. There are only about 80 priests for the entire state, and most of them take care of three or more churches. Those men are heroically pouring themselves out every day in a place that is very much mission territory. They very much need our prayers.

In these exciting first weeks of the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV, he has asked more than once for our prayers as he takes on the massive responsibility of shepherding the Church. His brothers have also gotten quite a bit of press. I found myself thinking about their pastors – if I feel pressure because some families are related to priests in this parish, imagine the pressure on the priest who looks out at his congregation and sees a brother of the pope looking back at him!

And so with this change in the calendar, let me offer one last word of encouragement to pray the rosary as a family, with one last special intention. As the month of the Blessed Virgin Mary turns into June, the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, I want to ask you to pray for priests. In particular, please pray for the priests who have served you in the past, and those who serve you today. Pray for the priests who are in need, who are burdened, who are struggling. Pray for those men in formation for the priesthood for the Diocese of Bridgeport. The month of the Sacred Heart is a great time for this kind of prayer, for every priest is meant to have the heart of Jesus, to be a priest after the heart of Christ. When we look at the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we see a heart enflamed with love for humanity, a love that cannot be contained. The heart of every priest is meant to burn in this way, too, so that the love and mercy of Jesus can be brought to every soul to whom that priest ministers. On our own, though, we priests cannot do it. We need your prayers!

Peace,

Fr. Sam