Grab your pint glasses and phone your Fathers! Next Saturday, 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, St. Hopswald wasn’t real, but your priest is real. Priests are people too, 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.
St. Hopswald of Aleyard, the first man to take his priest our for a beer.
So with that in mind, I would challenge you to do something concrete to show appreciation to your priest on September 9th. 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 this BAPABD! But it’s only a week away, so begin your preparations NOW!
*This used to be a “moveable feast”, but due to the confusion this caused, the day has been fixed on September 9th.
Great post and reminder of what Hebrews 13:17 tells us. I can’t imagine the discouragement they must go through at times.
Friday is 8!
Going to share this at this week’s Knight of Columbus meeting… A kegger with Father!
Ok, so Saturday is 9. What’s a problem?
Courage and discouragement always existed. But it is good Sep 9 may be a good day for priests
Sounds like a conspiracy to me!
9 September makes great sense! It’s always after Labor Day, so everyone in the parish is focused on Sunday School and program year start-ups. The weather is almost always good in my neck of the woods, so no one has much to complain about. The brewery across the street (Yes!) from my church has an abundant supply of Reverend’s Red freshly brewed, and my only question is cassock or logo polo shirt.