The years following Vatican II were a critical time for priests and many decided to leave the priesthood. Those that stayed were struggling to come to terms with the nature and demands of priestly ministry. Fr. Kevin Scallon CM. felt that something needed to be done but what? It was beyond human abilities to fix this.

On the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, July 16th 1976, Fr. Kevin began the first Intercession for Priests along with 11 other priests, Sr. Briege McKenna, O.S.C and some lay people at All Hallows, Dublin. Over the years, it has grown and countless priests have come and found a rock, a place of security where they can feel at home in their priesthood and renew their love for their vocations.

Lay people too come to some parts of the retreat to be prayed with and for especially in times of illness. Many little miracles have been worked through the anointing of the sick and through the power of prayer as an intercession.

Intercession is an essential element of the eternal Priesthood of Jesus and of the priestly ministry. At the Intercession for Priests, we pray for the intercessors as Jesus himself did. “Simon, Simon, behold Satan desired to have you that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren.” Luke 22:31-32.

We pray that priests will be full of the love of Jesus Christ and secure in their identity and vocation.

We pray in thanksgiving for faithful priests.

We pray for those who are persecuted and imprisoned, rejected and poor.

Each day of the week is given a theme and the Intercession prayers that day are offered up for its theme, be it for the grace of repentance, for healing, for the renewal of our Priesthood or for the needs of all priests. The door is always open and priests may come for a day, a week or part thereof.

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