Vianney Cenacle
Weekly Holy Hour for the Sanctification of Priests
Saturdays at noon

Every Saturday at noon in Lamb of God Chapel, the lay faithful of the area gather to pray a holy hour for our priests, especially as we look ahead at the changes that will take place in our diocese. The hour of prayer is called a Vianney Cenacle, named after the patron saint of priests, St. John Vianney. Many of those who come and pray the cenacle attend the 11:30AM Saturday Mass first. Therefore, we begin the vocal prayers once those who have attended Mass settle into the chapel, shortly after the noon hour begins.

Our Vianney Cenacle began on the 100-Year Anniversary of Fatima, May 13, 2017, and is affiliated with the Foundation of Prayer for Priests (www.foundationforpriests.org). The Foundation is part of an international movement of prayer for priests, encouraged by the Congregation for the Clergy at the Vatican. The booklet is based on an outline in the Vatican document Eucharistic Adoration for the Sanctification of Priests and Spiritual Maternity. The laity is answering the call to come together before the Eucharistic Face of Jesus to support our priests with our prayers.

We pray several prayers during the hour, including a Rosary for Priests with beautiful meditations written by Kathleen Beckman in her book Praying for Priests. After each decade we entrust the priest to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The cenacle ends in silent adoration on behalf of all priests and any priests we call to mind before the Lord.

In the church office is a notebook where anyone may add the name of a particular priest in need of prayer. These names are not read out loud during the cenacle, but are remembered in general as we begin our Rosary for Priests. Cenacle booklets are available in the office for anyone who wishes to pray the cenacle on their own, or for anyone who would like to begin their own cenacle, for a suggested $2 donation. Booklets are provided in the chapel, easy to follow, and all are welcome to come and join us!

A priest in our diocese recently stated: I used to think we needed a lot of prayers to get through seminary. Now that I am ordained, I see that we need it even more.