Praying for more priests on St. John Vianney’s feast

As the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau celebrates the Feast of St. John Vianney on Aug. 9, it’s a good time to remember the life of St. John Vianney and to pray for more priestly vocations in the archdiocese.

St. John Vianney (1786-1859), patron of parish priests, is revered for his ability to read the hearts of those who came to him in confession. With gentleness, he could diagnose their struggles and prescribe clear solutions to help them grow in holiness. 

At his parish in a 230-person rural French town, St. John Vianney spent 16-18 hours a day in the confessional hearing the confessions of 20,000 pilgrims a year who had heard of his ability. In the between hours, he celebrated Mass, catechized, and found homes for orphans. St. John Vianney’s life was one of sacrifice. He gave to strengthen others and to sow small seeds of faith. 

But St. John Vianney wasn’t born a priest. He was inspired to be a priest. 

St. John Vianney discovered his vocation in a time of crisis, when France was caught in the midst of revolution. Priests who did not reject the pope were forbidden to minister. So, St. John Vianney had to receive his First Communion in a boarded-up kitchen from a priest on the run from the law. The life of a priest is one of sacrifice, and it inspires many more lives, including those of the saints. 

Every day, your parish priest sacrifices to nourish your relationship with Christ. In the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau, many priests have to take to the road, catch a flight, stop mid-flight due to frequently turbulent weather only to try to fly again at 3 a.m. the next morning, and make other sacrifices in order to celebrate Mass. Even if it means flying many miles in a Cessna through Alaska’s fierce winds, Alaska’s priests are called to minister to the people of Alaska.

But men aren’t born priests. They are inspired to be priests. 

The Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau seeks more men to follow the models of those courageous priests who have gone before and those who still minister across Alaska. 

If you feel inspired to take up this life of sacrifice, contact Director of Vocations Fr. Joseph McGilloway at vocations@aoaj.org. Please sacrifice some of your time to pray for priestly vocations in this archdiocese; you may just inspire one yourself.