Today is the fourth day of our novena for the men who are preparing for their ordination to the priesthood. Today we feature Deacon Craig Best who had this to say about approaching the day of ordination:

The priesthood for me means assimilation into the priesthood and victimhood of Christ.  It is about setting aside my wants and preferences for the welfare and sanctification of others. In addition to hopefully touching lives through the sacraments, through preaching, counsel and teaching, one of the primary things I am looking forward to is simply praying as a priest, continuing to grow in my relationship with God.  I hope to do this through a disciplined plan of life that involves daily mental prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament, and relying on the help of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Please pray for all aspects of my priesthood but specifically some of the big things that come to mind are trust, surrender, and uniformity to the will of God.

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God our Father,
you appointed Jesus Christ High Priest of the new and eternal covenant.
By grace you allow men to share in this priesthood and in his saving work.

We ask you to pour out your Holy Spirit on our brothers, Craig, Jarred, Andy and Jacob, whom you have chosen for priesthood.

May they preach the Gospel worthily and wisely, celebrate the sacraments faithfully and reverently, and pray without ceasing. May they be united more closely every day to Christ the High Priest, who offered himself for us to the Father as a pure sacrifice.

Bless, sanctify, and consecrate the men whom you have chosen and called to the sacred order of Priesthood. Through the Holy Spirit make their lives worthy of the mysteries they celebrate.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Priest and Lord. Amen.

Please join us for the rest of the novena and keep praying with us as the Church prepares to celebrate with them on the day of their ordination and to support them throughout their ministry.

If you missed the first three days of the novena, please click here.

Today is the third day of our novena for the men who are preparing for their ordination to the priesthood. Today we feature Deacon Jarred Kohn who had this to say about approaching the day of ordination:

The priesthood is a great gift that the Lord has called me, a most unworthy man, to follow him. I hope my priesthood will be focused on service of our Lord and the salvation of souls. I am looking forward to both celebrating Mass and forgiving sins in the sacrament of penance. Pray that I will be a gentle and prudent minister of the Lord’s mercy.

To sign up to receive daily emails for this novena, click here.

God our Father,
you appointed Jesus Christ High Priest of the new and eternal covenant.
By grace you allow men to share in this priesthood and in his saving work.

We ask you to pour out your Holy Spirit on our brothers, Craig, Jarred, Andy and Jacob, whom you have chosen for priesthood.

May they preach the Gospel worthily and wisely, celebrate the sacraments faithfully and reverently, and pray without ceasing. May they be united more closely every day to Christ the High Priest, who offered himself for us to the Father as a pure sacrifice.

Bless, sanctify, and consecrate the men whom you have chosen and called to the sacred order of Priesthood. Through the Holy Spirit make their lives worthy of the mysteries they celebrate.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Priest and Lord. Amen.

Please join us for the rest of the novena and keep praying with us as the Church prepares to celebrate with them on the day of their ordination and to support them throughout their ministry.

If you missed the first two days of the novena, please click here.

Today is the second day of our novena for the men who are preparing for their ordination to the priesthood. Today we feature Deacon Jacob Willig who had this to say about approaching the day of ordination:

As I approach the altar of God, I think of Psalm 43:3 which is:

That I may come to the altar of God,
    to God, my joy, my delight.
Then I will praise you with the harp,
    O God, my God.”

Jesus Christ is our true Joy. He draws a priest to a deep intimacy with Himself. Saying the words of institution, calling down the Holy Spirit, standing in the place of Jesus. True intimacy with Christ is joy. Life in Christ at its core renews us and gives us the new life of the Resurrection in Him. Every time a priest stands at the altar in the person of Christ, he participates in this and God uses Him to share His gift of Himself with his people. What a joy!

I would like to pray for the gifts of counsel, courage, and fortitude. Some of these areas are ones in which I need to continually grow. I also pray that I might have the ability to be a compassionate, honest, and merciful confessor. I know that I will have a lot to learn as a priest, but I also hope to give it my all, to Not be Afraid and to continually put out into the deep! Please pray that I may be a holy priest.

To sign up to receive daily emails for this novena, click here.

God our Father, 
you appointed Jesus Christ High Priest of the new and eternal covenant.
By grace you allow men to share in this priesthood and in his saving work.

We ask you to pour out your Holy Spirit on our brothers, Craig, Jarred, Andy and Jacob, whom you have chosen for priesthood.

May they preach the Gospel worthily and wisely, celebrate the sacraments faithfully and reverently, and pray without ceasing. May they be united more closely every day to Christ the High Priest, who offered himself for us to the Father as a pure sacrifice.

Bless, sanctify, and consecrate the men whom you have chosen and called to the sacred order of Priesthood. Through the Holy Spirit make their lives worthy of the mysteries they celebrate.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Priest and Lord. Amen.

Please join us for the rest of the novena and keep praying with us as the Church prepares to celebrate with them on the day of their ordination and to support them throughout their ministry.

If you missed the first day of the novena, please click here.

Today is the first day of our novena for the men who are preparing for their ordination to the priesthood. Today we feature Deacon Andy Smith who had this to say about approaching the day of ordination:

When people ask me how excited I am for my upcoming ordination I tell them that I am definitely looking forward with great anticipation. I am not excited like when I was graduating college. That excitement was also mixed with anxiety. This is different. God has called/invited, I have responded, and the Church has accepted my response. I know I am not perfect, but for the last 7 years the seminary has formed me properly. I am confident and self assured. Please pray for my priesthood to be blessed with the virtue of perseverance, especially during my future physical struggles.

To sign up to receive daily emails for this novena, click here.

God our Father, 
you appointed Jesus Christ High Priest of the new and eternal covenant.
By grace you allow men to share in this priesthood and in his saving work.

We ask you to pour out your Holy Spirit on our brothers, Craig, Jarred, Andy and Jacob, whom you have chosen for priesthood.

May they preach the Gospel worthily and wisely, celebrate the sacraments faithfully and reverently, and pray without ceasing. May they be united more closely every day to Christ the High Priest, who offered himself for us to the Father as a pure sacrifice.

Bless, sanctify, and consecrate the men whom you have chosen and called to the sacred order of Priesthood. Through the Holy Spirit make their lives worthy of the mysteries they celebrate.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Priest and Lord. Amen.

Please join us for the rest of the novena and keep praying with us as the Church prepares to celebrate with them on the day of their ordination and to support them throughout their ministry.

Today is ordination day!!!

Therefore, today is also the final day of our novena for the men who are preparing for their ordination to the Transitional Diaconate!

Thank you for praying with us these past eight days! 

Please continue praying with us as the Church celebrates with them on the day of their ordination and to support them throughout their ministry.

Did you miss the other eight days? Click here.

Today is the eighth day of our novena for the men who are preparing for their ordination to the Transitional Diaconate tomorrow!

To sign up to receive the final email for this novena tomorrow , click here.

Please join us for the rest of the novena and keep praying with us as the Church prepares to celebrate with them on the day of their ordination and to support them throughout their ministry.

Did you miss one of the first seven days? Click here.

Today is the seventh day of our novena for the men who are preparing for their ordination to the Transitional Diaconate.

To sign up to receive daily emails for this novena, click here.

Please join us for the rest of the novena and keep praying with us as the Church prepares to celebrate with them on the day of their ordination and to support them throughout their ministry.

Did you miss one of the first five days? Click here.