Catholic Diocese Of Joliet

Bishop Conlon talks about the College of Cardinals selecting Pope Francis. He says the selection of someone who is not from Europe is an important one since it illustrates that the Church is global. He also talks about the powerful influence of the Jesuits on the life of the Church. He also said the Cardinals made a wise choice in picking the right person for the job, no matter what all the "requirements" that were supposedly talked about prior to the Conclave. What is the Holy Spirit asking of Pope Francis is what Bishop Conlon says in regards to what he hopes the Pope is asking. And then Bishop Conlon said that Lent is a great time to ask: how do we need to change to be a better member of the Church and a better disciples of Christ.

Bishop Conlon talks about Vatican II Council's Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests -- in Latin it is called "Presbyterorum Ordinis" -- and renumeration and Social Security for priests. In this podcast, he talks about how diocesan priests don’t take a vow of poverty, though religious order priests do. Priests should have simple lifestyles and should give some money to the poor. As for Social Security, the priests pay into it, and they should receive benefits after they retire - though most priest never really retire - and they get money from a pension fund set up by the diocese. They should be able to be free from money worries in their last years. Bishop Conlon also thanked the priests for their priestly ministries.

Bishop Conlon talks about Vatican II Council's Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests -- in Latin it is called "Presbyterorum Ordinis" -- more specifically about help for priests’ lives, which includes the internal lives of priests, study and pastoral knowledge and just renumeration for priests. Bishop Conlon talks about priests need to be nourished by the sacraments and examine their consciences every day and be docile to the demands of serving the Church’s mission, along with listening to Christ in prayer. Priests also need to be mature in their pastoral knowledge. They need to study and reflect by reading solid spiritual/theological books by the Fathers of the Church and other great sources; priests also need to know the Magisterium and the writings of the popes; and go to conferences or attend courses of study.

Bishop Conlon talks about Vatican II Council's Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests -- in Latin it is called "Presbyterorum Ordinis" -- and special spiritual requirements in the life of a priest. In this podcast, he talks about the priest representing the Church as the spouse of Christ, rather than the priest being married to individual person, so that he can represent the whole Church in its relationship to Christ. In other words, the priest lives not in a relationship that will end in death, but will be resumed in eternity. It is a foreshadowing of what is to come in heaven. Celibacy is a gift from God given to someone called by God to be a priest. It's not a rule of the church. The decree makes it clear that priests are to remain people who will not marry and should not engage in sexual behavior.

Bishop Conlon talks about Vatican II Council's Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests -- in Latin it is called "Presbyterorum Ordinis" -- and special spiritual requirements in the life of a priest. In this podcast, he talks about continence and celibacy. Continence is not engaging in sexual behavior. Celibacy is a way of life, a pledge not to marry and remain single in life. The priest is dedicated to the service of humanity, and by preserving celibacy for the sake of the kingdom of heaven, priests are consecrated to Christ and cling to Him and dedicate themselves more freely in Him and through Him in the service to others.

Bishop Conlon talks about Vatican II Council's Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests -- in Latin it is called "Presbyterorum Ordinis" -- and special spiritual requirements in the life of a priest. He identifies three areas that priests have to pay attention to in terms of their spiritual needs: humility/obedience, celibacy and poverty. Diocesan priests make solemn vows to be obedient to their bishops and embrace lifelong celibacy. Priests should seek will of Christ and the Holy Spirit -- that's where humility comes in. Priest does work of Christ and of holy spirit for the people, which means the priest is not a lone ranger. He is not doing things on his own; he has to have union with Christ and his bishop and the Holy Spirit. The priest works to build up the Body of Christ. He must recognize the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the people he serves. The priest should live in the world but not of the world. He needs to develop a detachment of things of the world so that he is free to focus on his ministry.

Bishop Conlon talks about Vatican II Council's Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests -- in Latin it is called "Presbyterorum Ordinis" -- and the need for priests to have internal holiness. The Word of God is an instrument for the priest's spiritual growth, to help him on his path to holiness by reflecting on the Word of God. The priests need to be transformed by the sacraments as they dispense the sacraments. The priests are also nourished spiritually by praying the Liturgy of the Hours, and they have to learn how to be led by the spirit. Priests need to share their spirituality with others, such as ongoing formation or support groups with other priests.

Bishop Conlon talks about Vatican II Council's Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests -- in Latin it is called "Presbyterorum Ordinis" -- and the internal, spiritual life of a priest. The priest is configured to Christ. He is called to perfection, which is filled through his ministry as a priest. It's a special call because he is consecrated through ordination to the union of Christ. He strives to perfection with special graces. He becomes holy through his ministry and his ministry become more efficacious because the priest has grown in holiness.

Bishop Conlon talks about his recent mission trip to the Philippines with college student. The group went to a poor village and helped build homes made out of concrete. But the main point he made was how we need to build a society built on the model that God gave us. The Lord has to build the house, or else people will labor in vain.

Bishop Conlon talks about Vatican II Council's Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests -- in Latin it is called "Presbyterorum Ordinis" -- and the distribution of priests around the world. The priest is responsible for the mission of Jesus around the world, and sometimes priests are loaned or asked to be moved to another diocese from their home country/diocese. If that occurs, priests need to be prepared for the new place they are going to.

Bishop Conlon talks about Vatican II Council's Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests -- in Latin it is called "Presbyterorum Ordinis" -- and the ways to promote vocations to the priesthood. He mentions that the priesthood is essential for the life of the Church and that it shouldn't be minimized, but promoted. Priests have an obligation to promote vocations and encourage vocations to the priesthood, while lay people should also promote priestly vocations, especially through prayer.

Bishop Conlon talks about Vatican II Council's Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests -- in Latin it is called "Presbyterorum Ordinis" -- and the relationship among priests and the relationship of priests with the laity. The relationship among priests is fundamentally a sacramental one. There may be some generational tension between older and younger priests, but each generation needs to cooperate with one another and to engage in common, ongoing formation. Priests need to understand and encourage the gifts of the laity. In addition, the laity need to treat priests with love and help them with prayer and active works.

Bishop Conlon talks about Vatican II Council's Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests -- in Latin it is called "Presbyterorum Ordinis" -- and the relationship between priests and their bishop and other priests. The ministry of the Church can't be done by one person alone, so it's important that there is a sense of unity between the priests and their bishop. This is exemplified when the bishop concelebrate at Mass with other priests. The relationship between the bishop and the priests begins at ordination. The bishop is responsible for the spiritual welfare of priests, while the priests have the responsibility to strengthen their bonds with the bishop.

Bishop Conlon talks about Vatican II Council's Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests -- in Latin it is called "Presbyterorum Ordinis" -- and how priests lead with spiritual power and authority -- in the sense that they are leading people on a pilgrimage, as shepherds representing Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit. to God the Father. The priest also should serve those who are in the greatest need and should maintain objectivity and shouldn't dissent from Church teaching or discipline when it comes to the liturgy.

Bishop Conlon talks about Vatican II Council's Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests -- in Latin it is called "Presbyterorum Ordinis" -- and how priests represent Christ, especially through the administration of the sacraments (especially the Eucharist). So it is in these ways that the priests are made sharers of Christ's priesthood, while also helping people to have an impact on the world by connecting the sacramental life of the Church to daily life.

Bishop Conlon talks about Vatican II Council's Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests -- in Latin it is called "Presbyterorum Ordinis" -- and the ministry of priests. He said that the decree stated that priests need to be ministers of God's Word, calling people to faith through preaching and talking about the Gospel.

Bishop Conlon talks about Vatican II Council's Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests -- in Latin it is called "Presbyterorum Ordinis" -- and the priest's place in the world. The priest is chosen by God to be a priest and so priests need to be set apart of the world, but also part of the world.

Bishop Conlon talks about how the Vatican II Council's Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests -- in Latin it is called "Presbyterorum Ordinis" -- addresses how the priesthoood is lived on in contemporary society of the 20th century and the nature of the priesthood as seen by the Vatican II Fathers.

Continuing in his series on Optatam Totius, the decree on priestly training from the Vatican II Council, Bishop Conlon talks about the need for integration within the seminarian formation process.

Continuing in his series on Optatam Totius, the decree on priestly training from the Vatican II Council, Bishop Conlon talks about the four areas of the seminary program: spiritual, academic, pastoral and human training.