In celebration of the Year for Priests, the University of St. Thomas Knights of Columbus are collecting letters of thanks to the university's priests from students, faculty and staff. The Knights plan to give each priest a book of thank-you letters at a Mass and reception that will be celebrated for priests this spring.
The Knights are organizing the event along with Catholic Studies and Campus Ministry. Pope Benedict XVI has declared this the Year for Priests.
The letters can be thank-you letters, a written account of a priest’s help in your life, or something that you admire about them. The letters don’t have to be long; just offer a simple “thanks” for their dedication.
Don’t know whom to write? Event organizer Paul Shovelain offers these suggestions: Send a letter to priests in leadership positions, to those who teach and those who work quietly behind the scenes. Retired priests also gave many good years of service to St. Thomas. Write several letters or notes, if possible, to a particular priest or express gratitude to priests in general for their presence on campus.
E-mail letters to Shovelain by Monday, Feb. 15. He will compile and send them to the UST Service Center to make individual books for each priest with the letters to that priest, as well as with letters written to priests in general.