In week four of our celebration of the Year for Priests, Father Austin Murphy of the Newman Center at Towson University tells a story of his former pastor, Father Fortenbaugh. In this brief video, he reminds us of the continuity of the priesthood through the ages, from Christ to his apostles to our priests today.

In Acts 28: 20, the Apostle Paul spoke to the presbyters of the church at Ephesus encouraging them to “Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, in which you tend the church of God that he acquired with his own blood.”  Father Austin speaks of the gift of a chalice and the many years of service of that cup in containing the Blood of Christ.

Are there others around you who might watch over the Good Shepherd’s flock, a church acquired with His own blood?  Please consider forwarding this e-mail to them and sharing your hopes for the future with them.

On some side notes: Fr. Austin is also a blogger, and you can read about his perspective on the video here. And, this concept is catching on…  Look here at what our neighbors in Arlington have done!  Sweet visual bumpers at the beginning (wish I had those skills) and good stories about our priests!