EncouragePriests.org: Send a local priest a ‘Collar-Holler’ this Father’s Day

The Year for Priests ends June 19, but a new website will help keep its spirit alive indefinitely.

EncouragePriests.org, which launched on Holy Thursday — the day that marks the institution of the priesthood — will become fully interactive June 20, Father’s Day.

The EncouragePriests.org site is designed to equip the laity with easy yet powerful ways to affirm the priests in their lives through spiritual bouquets, printable and electronic greeting cards — dubbed “Collar-Hollers” — and testimonials.

Visitors to the website will also be able to learn more about the priesthood, support vocations and explore features including homily highlights, “Words of Wisdom” and “Fatherly Advice.”

“It all happened very, very quickly,” founder Tom Peterson said of the new outreach ministry.

It started when Peterson, who is also the brains behind its partner Catholic media apostolate, Catholics Come Home, simply told his spiritual director earlier this year about his own heavy workloads, loneliness and the demands of ministry. His spiritual director mentioned that priests face the same struggles.

Then a phone call with a vicar general who was amid grief counseling followed by an impromptu hallway meeting at Catholics Come Home ended with the concept for EncouragePriests.org.

“All of us have been fighting a great battle out there,” Peterson said of worldly demands, “how much more does a priest have on his plate. He has a complete community that he cares for.”

And those situations often involve deep emotional issues, Peterson added.

He expects EncouragePriests.org to affirm priests in their vocation. Peterson hopes Catholics use the site to particularly thank missionary priests for their sacrifice of family and culture in support of spreading God’s word.

Peterson cited the spiritual bouquet portion of the website as his favorite component of EncouragePriests.org.

“I’ve met so many good bishops, priests and seminarians who are giving their all to God. What could be a greater gift than supporting them in prayer?” said Peterson, who spent 36 years in the Phoenix Diocese.

He knows the impact spiritual bouquets can have for the faithful. Peterson recalled word for word a spiritual bouquet he received from a complete stranger, who spent three hours beginning at midnight in prayer for Peterson.

Katie Peterson, Tom Peterson’s daughter and spokesperson for EncouragePriests.org, said the timing for the website is crucial.

“Secular culture is so quick to ridicule priests. Our [Catholic] community needs to be that much quicker in recognizing them as heroes,” Katie said. “We want the laity to look at priests and see them as imitators of Christ.”

EncouragePriests.org will give them that chance. The site will feature written and video testimonies from Catholics throughout the country saluting their favorite priest.

“Where to start? Our city has so many wonderful holy priests!” one woman wrote to EncouragePriests.org. “I am thankful for all of them for saying ‘yes’ to follow Jesus and serve His people so tirelessly! How blessed we all are!”

Fr. David Sanfilippo, vicar for priests for the Phoenix Diocese, found the concept of EncouragePriests.org affirming.

“While priests are not seeking praise here on earth, it is heartwarming to know of the affection the people of God hold for those who serve them,” Fr. Sanfilippo said. “I hope the priests who visit the site might be encouraged in their vocations to continue to serve the Lord and His people according to the heart of Jesus the Good Shepherd.”

Katie Peterson hopes the site, which will also link visitors to the best resources on vocations, will inspire the laity to promote religious vocations among themselves.

Tom Peterson agreed.

“When we have more shepherds and the shepherds are encouraging us in our faith,” he said, “then the whole Church is stronger.” ✴

EncouragePriests.org, a new outreach ministry through Catholics Come Home, is designed to affirm and thank men for their vocation to the priesthood.