The Archbishop of Toledo will open the synod in a "spirit of reparation".The Year for Priests, convoked by the Archdiocese of Toledo, is being celebrated on the 50th anniversary of the publication of the pastoral letter "A New and Free Seminary" by Cardinal Marcelo González Martín. With this letter "the Cardinal renewed our seminary, faithful to the indications of the Second Vatican Council, in a spirit of true love for the Church. The fidelity of that response to the needs of our time in priestly formation has attracted to our Metropolitan Seminary more than a thousand priests who today exercise their ministry in very diverse places of the universal Church", indicates Don Carlos Loriente, Episcopal Vicar for the clergy of the Archdiocese of Toledo.
Witnesses of Divine Mercy
The Year for Priests began on September 23, 2023 with a kick-off meeting held at the Nuestra Señora de los Infantes School, attended by some 700 participants.
The motto for this pastoral year is "Witnesses of Divine Mercy". As indicated on the website of the Archdiocese of Toledo, this motto "will run parallel to the motto of the three years of preparation for the Diocesan Synod of 2024, 'The Joy of Journeying Together'. The biblical icon representing Jesus' dialogue with Peter at Tiberias will serve as the official image for the pastoral course". The painter Carolina Espejo, a native of Toledo, has been commissioned to create this official image for the pastoral year.
Priestly Jubilee
One of the key dates of this year for priests was the priestly jubilee celebrated on January 23, the feast of St. Ildefonso, patron of the primate archdiocese. This jubilee was celebrated in the cathedral of Toledo with a Eucharist in the Hispano-Mozarabic rite, which was attended by various civil authorities, members of the cathedral chapter, seven bishops and almost 300 priests.
The celebration was presided over by Monsignor Francisco Cerro Chaves, archbishop of Toledo and Primate of Spain, while the concelebrating bishops were Monsignor Francisco César García Magán, Secretary General of the Spanish Episcopal Conference; Monsignor Braulio Rodríguez Plaza, Archbishop Emeritus; Ángel Rubio Castro, bishop emeritus of Segovia; Monsignor Salvador Cristau, bishop of Terrasa; Monsignor Ángel Fernández Collado, bishop of Albacete and Monsignor Domingo Oropesa, bishop of the Cuban diocese of Cienfuegos.
"The entire presbyterate was invited to participate in the Holy Mass celebrated in the Cathedral, during which the apostolic blessing with plenary indulgence was imparted, as the bishop does twice a year in his see," said the episcopal vicar for the clergy.
In addition, during the celebration, the attendees had the opportunity to venerate a relic of St. Ildefonso.
"Accompanied by eight bishops who have been formed in this house, the Church in Toledo wanted to give thanks to God for so many blessings that are going out to meet so many needs of the men of our days, through the sacramental personification of Jesus Christ that is the life of each priest. For this reason, before the chapel of the Descent of the Virgin, we renewed our priestly promises", said Fr. Carlos Loriente.
After Mass, the priests shared lunch at the seminary. Carlos added, "It was a day to thank the rectors of our seminaries for the work of all those who have striven to give the best of themselves in the service of priestly formation". "It was a day to thank God for so many blessings, as well as to celebrate that holy pastor who is the insignia and banner of Toledo throughout the world, the great Ildefonso, patron of our archdiocese. He who, with immense love for the Mother of God, left forever a Marian imprint in the soul of this particular church and its priests".
Other important dates
Within the framework of the Year for Priests of the Archdiocese of Toledo, the XII Pastoral Conference will also be held on January 26 and 27 at the diocesan college Nuestra Señora de los Infantes, with the presence of Monsignor Andrés Ferrada, secretary of the Dicastery for the Clergy.
Later, from June 5 to 8, a Diocesan Eucharistic Congress will be held in Torrijos, where the remains of the Servant of God Teresa Enriquez, known as "the madwoman of the Sacrament", rest.
At the culmination of this Year for Priests, the priests will go on pilgrimage to Fatima to consecrate themselves to Our Lady on August 22.
