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The need has become obvious and urgent'
Priest numbers (utmallt i;Y) worry Church VATICAN CITY: A "certain disorientation" about the need for priests was felt by both laity and pastors in the first years after Vatican II, but nowadays the need for priests has become obvious and urgent for everyone, says Pope John Paul. In a traditional Holy Thursday message to priests the pope says the formation of priests listed for the bishops' synod later this year was "on the horizon" at the synod on the laity in 1987. The pope quotes a "highly regarded lay representative" at that synod saying: "Without priests an
"As we approach the Third Millennium of Christ's coming we are experiencing more deeply both the vastness and the difficulties of the harvest." On the gospel phrase "the labourers are few" the pope says: "Few and this in regard not only to quantity but also to quality. Hence the need for formation." Although the topic of priestly formation concerns the Church as a whole, priests of the entire world have the right and duty to consider this synod as "their own".
More stories on P.5 essential witness in the tile ot the Church would be lacking." Nor was this a solitary voice, the pope adds. The need is now felt in both the long established churches and in the mission territories, he continues.
Australians will have to undergo "an almost Copernican change of perspectives to see Australia as a mission field," says Bishop Barry Hickey in his Lenten pastoral letter looking at the decade leading to 2000AD. "We understand the concept of foreign missions well," he states "but the task ahead is to see ourselves as home missionaries." Bishop Hickey warns his people not to imitate the fundamentalist style of
This relationship corresponds to the nature of the Church as a community.
Urging priests to make the three days of Holy Week a special prayer for the forthcoming synod and to pray for more labourers for the harvest, Pope John Paul alluded to the difficulties facing the Church in the years ahead.
"The priesthood is not an institution that exists alongside the laity. It is a ministry that is 'for' the laity and for this reason it possesses the character of service."
"Much will depend on the labourers whom the Lord sends out," he explained.
The ministerial priesthood highlights the priesthood common to all the faithful, he says.
Towards 20001k1)
Edited version of Bishop Hickey's Lenten pastoral letter on Page 2
The pope calls for a careful rereading of the Vatican H teaching on the relationship between the priesthood of the faithful and the ministerial priesthood.
evangelisation which is based on fear. He calls on his people to radiate hope and jo Referring to specific groups, Bishop Hickey calls on: • priests to be leaders of people whether Catholic or not; • religious to be prophetic voices; • lay people to lead the young back from paths to nowhere; • parishes to welcome all with open arms.