New Priestly Year

On the Vatican YouTube channel, the Pope announced a new Priestly Year 2009-2010.

It is the priests duty to move towards moral perfection. Benedict XVI affirmed this in his address to the Plenary Assembly of the Congregation for the Clergy.The Pope announced a special Priestly Year from June 19th, 2009 to June 19th, 2010 in honour of the 150th anniversary of the death of the Curé dArs, who was an example of service to the people of God.

Benedict XVI noted that priests must be present, identifiable and recognizable through their judgment of faith, personal virtue, as well as their clerical attire, in the manner of culture and charity that have always been at the centre of the Church's mission.

Furthermore, the promotion of the laity's role in many new ecclesial situations must not take place to the detriment of the priest's central role within the local ecclesial community.

Cool. The Chinese calendar is named after animals, while the Catholic calendar is named after saints and heroes. I'll stick with the saints, thanks.