World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests

Established by Saint John Paul II in 2002, the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests takes place every year on the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. In 2025, it will be celebrated on Friday, June 27.

On the day, the Church encourages priests to prayerfully reflect upon the gift of their vocation and also invites the faithful to mark this celebration by praying for all priests that they may live lives of holiness and fidelity to Christ and his Church.

Pope Francis emphasized the importance of initial and ongoing formation in the life of the priest: “Formation understood as discipleship accompanies the ordained minister his entire life and regards his person as a whole, intellectually, humanly and spiritually. Initial and ongoing formation are distinct because each requires different methods and timing, but they are two halves of one reality, the life of a disciple cleric, in love with his Lord and steadfastly following Him.”

Resources

To view resources for supporting the life and ministry of priests, visit www.usccb.org/committees/clergy-consecrated-life-vocations/priestly-life-and-ministry. 

For more information about discerning a vocation, visit the Diocese of Portland’s Office of Vocations website at www.portlanddiocese.org/vocations.

To pray for priests in our diocese: Apostolate of Prayer for Priests in the Diocese of Portland -  April-June 2025 / July-September