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The Reality of Priesthood Today

From a talk by Fr Eamonn Burke addressing The Saint Joseph’s Young Priests Society in Belfast

Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan
On 23 April 1975 Pope Paul Vl appointed him Coadjutor archbishop of Saigon against the wishes of the Communist regime. He was imprisoned, without trial, for more than 13 years. He said Mass from memory with three drops of wine and one water in one hand and bread in the other and surrounded by fellow prisoners to hide him from the guards.
The reality of the Priesthood today is the Reality of the Eucharist

Saint Damien of Molokai
Fr Damien died of leprosy on 15 April 1889. He was made Venerable in 1977, declared Blessed in 1995 and on 11 October 2009 was Canonised as St Damien of Molokai, Patron Saint of Hawaii of lepers and outcasts and intercessor for AIDS patient
The priest in the world today is called to be a transformer

Saint Maximilian Kolbe
Fr Kolbe was arrested by the Gestapo on 17 February 1941 and sent to Auschwitz in May. He was left to starve to death by the Gestapo but survived for three weeks , eventually dying from a carbolic acid injection. He was beatified in 1971 and Canonised a saint and patron of journalists and amateur radio enthusiasts in 1982.
The Reality today is that the priest is called to be a man of prayer and sacrifice

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION COMES TO LONDON

When a Club is invited to organise an International Convention it is normally given four years notice. Next year's convention is coming to London in May with just one year's notice.

The Convention Hotel will be the Novotel, Hammersmith and the starting date will be May 26