We are in that time of the year when many couples are making life-long commitments in the Sacrament of Matrimony and many new priests are being ordained in the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Married couples and priests make a solemn and public commitment the day they receive their respective Sacrament. Living out those commitments is challenging and requires life-long prayer and efforts.

It has been my experience over 34 years as a Bishop that every priest and Bishop is strengthened in his vows and commitments if he is faithful to the following three essential elements:

---Make prayer a serious part of daily life. Spend time each day before the Blessed Sacrament entrusting your life and your ministry to Jesus Christ.

---Meet regularly with a Spiritual Director. Be open and honest with your Spiritual Director about your struggles and challenges. Receive the Sacrament of Penance frequently.

---Join a Priest Prayer support group once you are ordained.

As we near the joyful day of May 30 when six new priests will be ordained for our Archdiocese, I have been reminding them over their Seminary years that there is no substitute for all three elements to sustain our priestly commitments: daily and sincere prayer, a good spiritual director seen regularly, and a prayer group of brother priests to sustain you on your journey.

To eliminate or diminish any of those three pillars to sustain our priestly lives and commitments means eventual failure.

I invite all the members of our Archdiocese to pray for us, your priests, and to encourage us to take our spiritual lives seriously - even challenge us. I pray that all of us who have made life-long commitments continue to take those steps necessary to be faithful to those commitments.