Bishop of Shrewsbury to lead retreat in Ars

The Rt Rev Mark Davies, the Bishop of Shrewsbury, is to lead a retreat for English-speaking priests in the French village of Ars to mark the 200th anniversary of the priestly ordination of St John Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests. The retreat, from 7-12 June 2015, is being organised by the Society of St John Mary Vianney with the aim of offering English-speaking priests an opportunity to visit and pray at the place where their patron exercised his priestly ministry following his ordination to the priesthood on 12 August 1815.

The retreat will focus on the call to holiness exemplified by the Curé of Ars and prayer for the renewal of the priesthood in the service of the New Evangelisation. Each day there will be two meditations given by Bishop Davies, a concelebrated Mass with homily, and a Holy Hour together with extended times of Eucharistic Adoration.

There will be opportunities for Confession as well as an entrustment of the priesthood to Our Lady, the Mother of Priests. The last day, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, has been designated a day of prayer for the sanctification of priests and the Mass will be celebrated in the Basilica of Ars close to the shrine of the incorrupt body of the Curé.

In the summer of 2012 Bishop Davies organised the visit of the relic of the heart of the Curé of Ars to England as an invitation to pray for priests and for the renewal of parish life.

Bishop Davies said: “In the Curé of Ars we recognise the holiness and the apostolic mission to which every priest is called. This English-speaking retreat to mark the bicentenary of St John Vianney’s ordination will provide an opportunity to pray and reflect in the company of the Saint of Ars on the vocation and mission we share.”

Booking forms are available to download from the Diocese of Shrewsbury website see: www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/