His Excellency the Most Reverend Thomas John Paprocki, Bishop of Springfield in Illinois, has approved the prayer and it will soon be printed on holy cards to distribute throughout the Diocese.
The text of the prayer is as follows:
God our Father, you have found Father Augustus Tolton to be an obedient servant of Christ our eternal high priest and a faithful steward of the mysteries of God.I thought today, on which we will soon celebrate in Quincy Father Tolton's priestly anniversary, a fitting day on which to share this prayer with you.
Father Tolton’s sharing in the Cross of our salvation led him to a life of long suffering in the face of prejudice and misunderstanding, which produced within him the fruits of a great joy and a humble love for you and for your people. His zeal for the priestly ministry shines brightly before us in this Diocese of Springfield in Illinois in which he served, illuminating for us the path to you.
Through his example and intercession, may many young men within this Diocese respond with generous and courageous love to your Son’s invitation to share in his priesthood so that each of your altars in this Diocese may be served by such a faithful priest as this Servant of God.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
My diocese is getting three more in six days!
ReplyDeleteWe also got three more transitional deacons (one of whom I know very, very, very well) and a fourth being ordained in Rome in October!