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Priests 'should emulate great saint'

Patron of priests is spiritual role-model for them as well, says archbishop
Priests 'should emulate great saint'
Catholics pray before a statue of St. John Vianney at Holy Rosary Church in Tejgaon, Dhaka
Published: August 05, 2011 06:29 AM GMT
Updated: August 05, 2011 11:09 AM GMT

An archbishop yesterday urged priests to emulate the model life of a saint on his feast day. Speaking at the feast of St. John Vianney, Archbishop Paulinus Costa of Dhaka said: "Priests ought to become simple, humble and holy like St. John Vianney. There is no alternative for priests." He was addressing a gathering of two archbishops, three bishops, priests, nuns and 300 Catholics attending a special mass at the country’s largest Holy Rosary Church at Tejgaon in Dhaka. The celebration marked the end of a novena, or nine days of Mass and prayers, where hundreds of people attended and many placed prayer intentions to be fulfilled. “People expect a priest to be a spiritual person, a man of sacrifice and good behavior. They love to see such virtues in him and imitate them as well,” the 75-year-old prelate added. Father Tapan D’Rozario, 53, president of Bangladesh Diocesan Priests’ Fraternity (BDPF) said most priests try to follow in the footsteps of St. John Vianney, but some make mistakes and do not like a life of sacrifice. Mary Rani Gomes, 50, a Catholic housewife, attended all the novena Masses and prayers and put forth a prayer to the great saint for her daughter and son-in-law who are in marital disharmony and living separately. She too observed that most priests behave well and lead prayerful and spiritual lives, but some priests need to undergo major changes. The patron saint of priests, St. John Vianney has been turning to devotees with miraculous favors, claimed a local Catholic. “I’d been unemployed for more than four years and prayed to St. Vianney for a job. Recently I found a job with an NGO and today I came to thank the great saint,” said Ruben Halder, 30. Related reports: Priests ‘must become specialists’

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