The 'Year for Priests'

In keeping with the Order's longstanding "In Solidarity With Our Priests" campaign, the Supreme Knight has called upon all Knights to actively participate in the "Year for Priests" declared by Pope Benedict XVI. The centerpiece of the Order's program for this yearlong celebration (June 19, 2009 – June 19, 2010) is a new holy card featuring a prayer for priests. The card features an icon, written by Marek Czarnecki (http://www.seraphicrestorations.com/ ), showing Christ in Mass vestments with a gold pelican over his heart, the ancient symbol of self-sacrifice. At the bottom of the icon is an altar prepared for Mass, and at the sides are Melchizedek, whose sacrifice of bread and wine prefigured the Eucharist, and St. John Vianney the patron of parish priests. The back of the card includes a prayer for priests.