Nearly 90 priests who minister and serve in the Archdiocese of Montreal gathered on June 12 at Visitation-de-la-Bienheureuse-Vierge-Marie (Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary) in Ahuntsic, the oldest church on the island of Montreal, to mark the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus with a day of prayer and fellowship.

The annual gathering, at the invitation of Archbishop Christian Lépine of Montreal, opened with a welcome followed by a period of adoration concluding with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament given by the Archbishop. June 12 was also the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests, observed each year on the feast of the Sacred Heart.

After prayer, the priests continued their conversations over a reception and BBQ dinner. Among those present were retired priests from Square Angus Residence. The gathering was an opportunity to renew the ties of priestly communion within Montreal's presbyterate and to give thanks for the gift of the priesthood.

Many generous contributors made the day possible. Special thanks go to the Oblates of Bethany, a congregation founded in 1901 by Quebec-born Father Eugène Prévost and dedicated to prayer for the sanctification of priests, and to the Little Sisters of the Holy Family, founded in 1880 by St. Marie-Léonie Paradis and devoted to serving the clergy, whose donations provided the BBQ meal for all participants.

Heartfelt thanks are also due to the many volunteers from the Ministry to Priests and from Visitation parish, whose preparation of the space, generous welcome and attentive service throughout the day greatly contributed to its success.

The Archdiocese also thanks the Communauté Semences du Verbe (Seeds of the Word Community) for their presence and support throughout the day; the Vargas Venegas family for leading the singing; and Father Elkin Lopez for preparing the prayer texts.

A final word of gratitude goes to Visitation parish for its generous hospitality, and to all the priests whose presence made the gathering a living witness to priestly communion.

May the Heart of Jesus continue to inspire and fortify our priests in their mission in service to the Gospel and the people of God.

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