For Immediate Release                                                                                      October 4, 2010

Contact:
Chris Schenk (work) 216-228-0869 ext. 4

(cell) 216-513-3647
chris@futurechurch.org

FutureChurch program:

A Celebration of Priesthood

On Monday, October 25, at 7pm, FutureChurch will hold “A Celebration of Priesthood” at St. Colman’s Church hall (the basement of the church), 2027 West 65th Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44102.

The program is inspired by Priesthood Sunday/World Day for Priests, special Sundays began by Worldwide Marriage Encounter and the Serra Club. These organizations began to mark this day in order to honor and affirm those men who chose to receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders and faithfully serve the people of God through ministry and prayer.

FutureChurch will pray for and affirm priests who like St. Paul, embraced the celibate charism in their service to God's people. We will also affirm those whose calls to ministry are not yet recognized by the institutional church. We pray that Church leaders will welcome into the Latin Rite those who, like St. Peter, embrace their call to priestly service as married men, and women who like St. Phoebe, embrace their call to serve as deacons.

Three reflections will share different perspectives on the priesthood. One will be by Fr. Jim O’Donnell, a diocesan priest in the Diocese of Cleveland. Another will be Bill Wisniewski, member of St. Joan Parish and a FutureChurch Board member. Julie Biroscak, a hospice chaplain, will share her experience of being ministered by priests and her hopes for the present and future of the priesthood.

FutureChurch will also have cards available for participants to send to their parish priests thanking him for their ministry.

There is no charge but a free will offering will be accepted.

FutureChurch, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is a U.S. coalition of 5,000 parish centered Catholics striving to educate fellow Catholics about the seriousness of the priest shortage, the centrality of the Eucharist (the Mass), and the systemic inequality of women in the Catholic Church. FutureChurch makes presentations throughout the country, distributes educational and informational packets and recruits activists who promote widespread discussion of opening ordination to all baptized persons who are called to priestly ministry by God and the people of God.

FutureChurch
17307 Madison Ave.  Lakewood, OH 44107    
216-228-0869 www.futurechurch.org