Pope Benedict XVI has declared a “Special Year of the Priests” beginning with the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 19, 2009. The year will conclude in Rome with an international gathering of priests with the Holy Father from June 9-11, 2010, however we should continue to thank our priests after this year ends.

The Pope has declared St. John Vianney the Universal Patron of Priests on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the death of the Curé d’Ars.

The mission of this project, Year of the Priest, Appreciation Post Card Campaign is as follows:

In this year of the priest, I promise to fulfill my commitment to offer spiritual gifts for every priest living in my diocese and to make this known by mailing one of these cards to each one of them as I accomplish my daily spiritual works for them.

On the website www.alterchristi.com is a 15 minute testimony given at a Charismatic Conference in New Jersey on how this project started. Also www.bettemyersart.com tells the  incredible story of the origin of  the painting “The Masterpiece”.