Priestly Life and Ministry

The Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations (CCLV) serves the bishops' committee on CCLV which provides leadership regarding priestly life and ministry and to respond to the needs and concerns of priests. Throughout its history, the Committee has developed documents and other courses of action by which bishops have supported and challenged the life and ministry of priests. The Secretariat assists the Committee to fulfill its purpose by doing research and developing drafts regarding the Committee's projects, by implementing the Committee's decisions, by developing communication about the Committee's activities, and by being available for consultation with individual dioceses and religious institutes. The Secretariat also assists the Bishops' Committee on Child and Youth Protection which develops projects and resources to assist bishops in dealing with the problem of child sexual abuse by Catholic clergy and religious.

New and Noteworthy

Preaching the Mystery of Faith: The Sunday Homily

In response to Pope Benedict XVI's call to improve the quality of preaching to overcome ignorance of and indifference to the faith, the Bishops of the USCCB issued this unique statement on the Sunday homily during the Year of Faith. The document is biblical throughout, drawing upon the examples of Jesus' preaching in the four gospels as well as the writings of St. Paul, and articulates the homily's relationship with the Scriptures, the Eucharist, the Church's doctrine and catechesis.

PDF Version: English  |  En Espanol    
Purchase: English  |  En Espanol

Important Links

NOCERCC 2013 Presentation

Cardinal Piacenza's 2012 Letter to Priests

ANSH 2012 Presentation

Msgr. Stephen Rosetti discusses the findings of important new research on the psychological and spiritual well-being of priests presented in his new book Why Priests are Happy.

The Basic Plan for the Ongoing Formation of Priests

Information for Priests Inquiring About Military Chaplaincies

Decrees of Promulgation

Other Links of Interest

National Organizations for Priests

Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM)
Jesus Caritas Fraternity of Priests USA
Jesus Caritas Fraternity of Priests
National Association of Church Personnel Administrators(NACPA)
National Federation of Priests' Councils (NFPC)
National Organization for Continuing Education of Roman Catholic Clergy (NOCERCC)
Asociación Nacional de Sacerdotes Hispanos

Centers for Ongoing Formation for Clergy

Center for Development in Ministry–Mundelein
Congregation for Clergy
Institute for Priestly Formation at Creighton University
Pontifical North American College Institute
Seton Hall
Vatican II Institute–Menlo Park
Sacred Heart Institute

Statistical Data on Priestly Life and Ministry

Statistical Data from the Pontifical Pastoral Ministry for Vocations to the Priesthood

Causes Opened for Holy Priests

Bishop Federic Baraga
Rev. Vincent Capodanno, MM
Venerable Rev. Pierre Toussaint
Venerable Rev. Felix Varela
Blessed Rev. Theodore Guerin
Bishop John Nepomucene Neumann
Rev. Francis Seelos, CSsR
Venerable Rev. Michael McGivney
Venerable Frank Parater
Venerable Rev. Solanus Casey
Cardinal Terence Cooke
Venerable Rev. Walter Ciszek
Venerable Rev. Emil Kapaun
    Recent on-line news
    Video en espanol
Venerable Rev. Patrick Peyton
Blessed Rev. Carlos Rodriquez

Preaching

The Homily in the Sunday Assembly

Ideal for priests, deacons, and those in formation for these ministries, this document offers a practical examination of the principal ingredients for effective homilies: the assembly, preacher, homily, and homiletic method.

Fulfilled in Your Hearing (PDF Version)

To order a hardcopy or additional copies, please call the USCCB Publishing Office at 1-800-235-8722, or click here.