International Buy a Priest a Beer Day!

September 5, 2013

Did you know that this coming Monday, September 9, is International Buy a Priest a Beer Day? On this festive day, faithful Catholics all over the world take their priests out for a beer and get to know them better. It’s a beautiful Catholic tradition that goes back to the time of St. Hopswald of Aleyard, the first man to take his priest out for a beer.

Okay, if you’re getting suspicious by now, there’s a good reason. Buy a Priest a Beer Day is not a real holiday. But I would argue that it should be!

Believe it or not, priests are real people, and they enjoy socializing over good food and drink as much as anyone. They also have a thankless and difficult job, a job that we couldn’t get to heaven without. Priests are the lifeblood of the Church, and they deserve some appreciation.

So with that in mind, I would challenge you to do something concrete to show appreciation to your priest in the month ahead. Yes, it could be taking him out for a beer, or it could be inviting him over to share dinner with your family. Be creative if you want, but give back to your priest somehow, and let him know that his ministry is making a difference.

Of course, your priest may be insanely busy and unable to schedule a time for a lengthier visit. That’s okay. You could offer a rosary or a holy hour for him and his intentions (or better yet, more than one), and let him know that you are regularly praying for him. At the very least, express to him your gratitude, in person or via a note, for his faithful ministry and his answering God’s call to the priesthood.

I fully expect there to be a lot of happy, encouraged priests by the end of the month. If you want to participate, leave a comment saying, “I’m in!” Ready, set, go.

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Sam Guzman

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  1. One of those children says

    A word of caution: Drunk priests are as lacking in self control as are any other inebriated people. Don’t take them home to get them drunk. Bad things happen to children when they are around drunk adults.

    • Russell Grigaitis says

      “You are the rum of the earth; but if rum loses its spice, how shall its rummies be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be cast out and trodden under foot by men. You are the beer of the world. A tap set on a bar cannot be hid. Nor do men tap a keg and put it under a barstool, but on a bar, and it gives beer to all in the house. Let your beer flow to men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Drink not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to refill.”

      (See CCC 2290)

      http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P80.HTM

  2. SLY says

    Very sorry for your experience. Thank you for the warning about moderation. I enjoy beer & cigars with my priest friend. He rarely has more than one.

    • Karen says

      Because they are “Priests”–that is the biblical term and THE term the Church uses. If you want to buy a clergy-person a beverage, visit a protestant house of worship.

  3. Theresa says

    I am so in! I work at The Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton and I am including Archbishops and Auxiliary Bishops in this!. Roll on Monday 🙂

  4. Tammy says

    This is a lovely idea. Also, for the record, October is actually “Pastor Appreciation Month” (and recognized as such). The second Sunday of the month of October is traditionally “Pastor Appreciation Day” (unless your priest / pastor is off that day). A meal out during this time, I’m sure, would be most appreciated – and something different people in the congregation could take turns doing during the whole month. Imagine a priest not having to buy breakfast, lunch, or supper for a whole month. 🙂 For those who have pastors who are married, please include the spouse. 🙂

  5. Bill Hartley says

    You know, “Buy Your Pastor a Beer Day” just doesn’t get any traction in Protestant circles. Seems we’ve missed something as a result of that whole Reformation thing. 🙂

  6. chito alagao says

    agree . . our parish team (Tito-Boyet-Charlie-Jack-FrOca) in Bagbag, Novaliches, QC, Phils used to have Monday-night breaks, after a week of hard parish work . . this IBPBD is a great way to extend that tap-on-the-shoulder gesture . .

  7. Katherine Wolfe says

    My priest is a boy scout. The most profoundly innocent soul I’ve ever encountered. He’s probably never had a drop. A wonderful man, but my goodness, he’s a dork!

  8. Rev Eleanor Berry says

    Please do include those of us of the Anglican tradition and also include those of us who are women and priest. Many thanks.

  9. Bruce Faulkner says

    Here in Somerset, England the lengend is the St Pippin of Orange found a discouraged priest sat by the church door one day and, in true ‘love thy neighbour’ mode gathered him up and took him to the back of his milking palour where he poured forth a large jar of the finest cider (fermented apple juice in the UK). After a while the preist was seen happily on his way, and that way, and whoops – not that way. As a CofE presit in Somerset the 9th of Sept sound a good day to be encouragedm

    • norcalrunner says

      Well, Denmark = Mikkeller in my world, and Mikkeller SF is only a few blocks away, so I’ll buy a priest a beer for ya! :~)

  10. Jeroen says

    Haha, I am definitely going to bring a fine strong beer to my parish meeting tomorrow night. If there is anyone in this world who deserves a free beer it is our Priest!

  11. Just sayin' says

    A little Latin lesson here: Though the word “beer” comes to English from Germanic roots, it does happen to be the 1st person singular present passive subjunctive of the verb beo, beare. How about that! Gaudeamus, igitur.

  12. christopher Trice says

    to bad this monday is the 8th and the 9th is a tuesday. i guess that we dont take him out for a beer then.

  13. Unknown priest says

    I may give a+ for the thoughts of the writer for supporting priests. Thanks for your thoughts and encouragement. Still, i may give c for beer. Am i a priest?

  14. Geoffrey Lubic says

    What about vodka? I usually don’t drink beer because the brand and/or particular brew (Sam Adams “Double Bock) I like is not available.

  15. Beth says

    Episcopalians love beer too! I’ll buy my priest a beer and he can buy me one next month on buy your deacon a beer day!

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