‘There is no church without the priesthood’

Bishop Sullivan has consistently voiced his support for the priests of the Camden Diocese, and he has also regularly stressed the importance of encouraging vocations. “We need priests,” has been a recurring theme in his columns in the Catholic Star Herald. Following are some examples of his thoughts on the priesthood and vocations.

Thank your parish priest

Let us never underestimate the circumstances in which the power of the grace of an invitation from the Lord to the priesthood falls into the heart of a young man.

There are many wonderful priests in our diocese. You know them and I am getting to know my new brothers. They serve you generously and gladly. They live fulfilling lives as parish priests. When you have an opportunity, thank your parish priest for having heard and responded to the Lord’s call. Can you imagine what your parish would be like without him? Can you imagine if he was not available for you?

I ask you to join with me in creating a culture of vocations to the diocesan priesthood for the church in Camden.

“Vocation to the Diocesan Priesthood Sunday,” Nov. 7, 2013

Pray for priests, and for your bishop

I have previously written but again repeat that the BIGGEST and most URGENT problem facing the Diocese of Camden is the need for more priests to staff our parishes. Please, HELP. If you know a young man in your parish, or in your family, whom you think would be a fine priest, mention it to him. Contemporary culture makes it extremely difficult for young men to hear and respond to the call of God to the priesthood. There are too many noisy distractions out there which block a young man from hearing the call of the Lord to the priesthood of Jesus Christ. Sometimes a word of encouragement from another gets him to seriously consider the priesthood. Pray also for an increase of vocations to the diocesan priesthood and for our seminarians.

Tell your parish priest of your gratitude for his ministry and for his life. Priests need to hear from the faithful your appreciation of them. There is a lot of negativity against priests out there which affects priests who can use and benefit from your words of affirmation. Pray for priests and, while you are at it, for your bishop too.

“The ‘spiritual’ connection between priest and bishop,” July 30, 2020

Persevere in your priestly ministry

I encourage you priests as your brother and father to persevere in your priestly ministry. To stand in solidarity with all those who have been wounded either by bishops or priests. Through the ordained priesthood you are privileged to share you can bring reparative love — transformative love to the broken Body of Christ.

“‘Permit me to begin by begging for forgiveness’” Oct. 4, 2018

The courage to pursue a vocation

Seminarians are some of the most courageous young guys that I know. It takes a lot of courage to pursue and test a vocation to the priesthood. A lot of courage.

We have wonderful priests in our diocese. Priests whose ministries have built up and continue to build up this local Church in South Jersey. Talk with them. Listen as they tell you about their priestly ministries. About how they as shepherds accompany their parishioners.

Let us pray that the Lord will send us young men and young women who are willing to give their lives. The priesthood and the consecrated life are lives of deep human satisfaction and fulfillment and lives of great happiness and joys. May our Church in Camden be blessed with young people who desire to be good shepherds.

“Getting the message out about vocations,” April 26, 2018

Priests deserve our praise and gratitude

A diocesan priest is ordained for ministry in the entire diocese and not exclusively for a particular parish. When he serves the parish his priestly ministry binds him to his people. However, a diocesan priest is first bonded to his bishop. The bishop oversees the diocese with his principal collaborators, the priests.

Thanks be to God for the faithful ministry of our Camden priests who not only need our prayers but also deserve our praise and gratitude for the selfless service to the faithful and to all peoples. Our diocese is blessed by their ministry and I am blessed to be their bishop.

“Thanks be to God for the faithful ministry of our Camden priests,” Aug. 6, 2015

We need young men with a desire to serve

We need young men who have a desire to SERVE people. We are looking for young men of COURAGE who are not afraid to consider a call to the diocesan priesthood. We need HERO priests right here in South Jersey. Priests who are inspired with a missionary zeal to go out to all with the Gospel and to invite all to our Catholic Church. We need priests who are willing to make personal sacrifices for the sake of the Kingdom of God.

“Young men want lives of heroic virtue,” Sept. 21, 2017

There is no church without the priesthood

We need diocesan priests. Let that message be heard by young men and may it move them to seek the priesthood of Jesus Christ. There is no church without the priesthood and there are no parishes without parish priests. Each of us can help to get this message into the lives, hearts, minds and consciences of young men.

So, shout it from the housetops, from each parish, school and social service agency of the diocese…WE NEED PRIESTS.

I am convinced that priestly vocations are there. There may be noises in society that make it difficult and confusing for young men to hear and follow the voice of the Good Shepherd to a joyful life of service as a priest of the Diocese of Camden. We can help them hear a different voice about the Vocation of a parish priest who is privileged to be with people at times of crisis and on occasions of joy and celebration; who leads women and men to God in the ordinary circumstances of daily life; who prays with the people and speaks to them of God; whose very presence keeps them connected to God and assists them to grow in our faith.

Our people need shepherds, parish priests. Let’s get the message out across the six counties of our diocese so that young men will hear it and be moved to come forward with the confidence that God is calling them to be priests of Jesus Christ for the Diocese of Camden.

“Our people need shepherds, parish priests,” April 21, 2016