Catholics of the archdiocese are invited to mark Pope Benedict XVI’s 60th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood with 60 hours of eucharistic adoration, with prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father, an increase in vocations and priestly sanctity.

The local observance will take place from the evening of June 28 to the morning of July 1 at the St. Paul Seminary’s St. Mary’s Chapel, located at 2260 Summit Ave., in St. Paul.

The prayer and adoration begins with a Mass at 7 p.m. June 28 with Archbishop John Nienstedt and concludes with an 8 a.m. Mass on July 1 (see full schedule, right). The chapel also will be open to all during the night. Individuals and groups are encouraged to sign up for an hour of adoration in the seminary chapel.

Those who cannot participate in the devotion at the seminary are invited to pray at a parish that offers perpetual adoration. A list of those parishes can be found on the archdiocese’s website: http://www.archspm.org.

“My hope would be in having this at the seminary that it provides an opportunity for people of the archdiocese not only to pray and give adoration to the Holy Eucharist but also to raise consciousness for the need for holy priests, seminarians, deacons and religious,” Archbishop Nienstedt said.

Worldwide call

Pope Benedict was ordained a priest on June 29, 1951 in Freising, Germany. In honor of his anniversary, the Vatican Congregation for Clergy urged Catholics worldwide to celebrate the event with prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.

The June 28 Mass at the St. Paul Seminary occurs on the Vigil of the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, the patronal feast day of the archdiocese. Father John Paul Erickson, director of the archdiocesan Office of Worship, said Archbishop Nienstedt has imparted a plenary indulgence to all who attend the Mass and fulfill the usual requirements (no attachment to sin, sacramental confession, receiving the Eucharist and prayers for the intentions of the pope.)

To mark the pope’s ordination anniversary, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations has designed a prayer card that be downloaded at http://www.foryourvocation.org.

To sign up for adoration or for more information, contact the St. Paul Seminary at (651) 962-5050 or spssod@stthomas.edu.

Prayer, adoration schedule

June 28

7 p.m., Solemn opening Mass with Archbishop John Nienstedt

8 p.m., 1st of 60 hours of adoration

9 p.m., Way of the Cross

June 29

7:40 a.m., Morning prayer, with seminarians

8 a.m., Mass, Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul

10 a.m., Rosary, Joyful Mysteries

12 p.m.,  Midday prayer, with seminarians

3 p.m., Divine Mercy Chaplet, Meditation on the Sorrows of Mary

6 p.m. Evening prayer, with seminarians

8 p.m. Rosary, Luminous Mysteries

June 30

7:40 a.m., Morning prayer, with seminarians

8 a.m., Mass

10 a.m., Rosary, Sorrowful Mysteries

12 p.m., Midday prayer, with seminarians

3 p.m. Divine Mercy Chaplet, meditation on last words of Christ

5:30 p.m. Evening prayer, with seminarians

8 p.m., Rosary, Glorious Mysteries

July 1

7:40 a.m., Morning prayer, with seminarians

8 a.m., Closing Mass