Detroit — Priesthood Sunday, as regards the entire 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church with its many timeless feasts, celebrations and traditions, isn’t that old. Established in 2003 with the backing of the USA Council of Serra International, it was created as a way to honor the men whose work on behalf of God’s people puts a visible face on the love and compassion of Jesus. This year’s celebration is Oct. 25.

Suffice to say, while Priesthood Sunday is just 12 years old, it’s probably here to stay — especially if The Michigan Catholic’s readers have anything to say about it.

That’s because for the third year in a row, we’ve received more letters than ever before for our annual Priesthood Sunday special edition, so many that we’ve struggled to fit them all in the pages that follow. It’s become obvious to us, if it wasn’t already, that Metro Detroiters love their priests. And it isn’t difficult to see why.

As Antoinette McBain writes about Fr. Stanley Obloj, pastor of St. Mark Parish in Warren, “Father always makes everyone feel special; he is a caring, loving, and compassionate person.”

It’s a sentiment echoed many times over in the pages that follow about dozens of faithful shepherds who tirelessly minister as servants of God’s word, His sacraments and His people.

Mary Tiggs says Fr. Paul Chateau, pastor of Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish in Oak Park, “is an attentive shepherd to his flock” who “always takes notice of who is at Mass, and he has always managed to give me the exactly right word of encouragement at the right time.”

Suzanne Szczepanski-White of St. Basil the Great Parish in Eastpointe says in addition to his spiritual duties, her pastor, Fr. Tony Sulkowski, “can also be found cleaning, emptying trash cans, replacing paper towels and ‘other’ activities as required. Whatever needs to be done for the greater good, he does – with humility, dedication and love.”

We urge you to take a look at what other readers have written in the pages that follow, as well as the numerous advertisements taken out by parishes and schools to publicly thank their priests.

The Michigan Catholic would also like to take a moment to say “thank you” to all those who’ve dedicated their lives to the service of the Gospel. To Archbishop Allen Vigneron, Cardinal Adam Maida, our auxiliary bishops and all the priests who minister to the faithful in any capacity in the Archdiocese of Detroit, may God bless you always and keep you steadfast in His love.

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