In 2014, Mary’s Sons initiated a special program with a two-fold purpose: to provide each newly ordained priest in the Charlotte Diocese with a personal,
handmade kneeler for use in their ministry and to give the faithful a unique and especially meaningful opportunity to pray for those priests in the months leading up to ordination.
We have gifted 21 of our kneelers to priests through what has come to be known as the Mary’s Sons Kneelers for Priests Pilgrimage.
We pray that the kneelers will serve as a constant reminder to our priests of our love and support and the prayers that we continue to offer for them.
Pilgrimage Timeline
Each summer the Mary’s Sons Apostolate purchases individual, handmade wooden kneelers for each of the men who will be ordained to the holy priesthood the following year.
The kneelers then are taken on a “pilgrimage” throughout the diocese, visiting parishes, Catholic schools, Perpetual Adoration chapels, convents, and retirement communities. In each location, people are invited to pray on the kneelers for the soon-to-be-ordained priests. After the annual Holy Hour for the men and their families on the eve of ordination, which is typically in June, the Bishop blesses the kneelers, which have been covered in the many prayers of the faithful during the pilgrimage.
The kneelers are given as gifts to the men on their ordination day. Each kneeler bears a plaque inscribed with the priest’s name, ordination date, and the words “With our prayers for a joyful priesthood, Mary’s Sons Apostolate.” The newly ordained priests use the kneelers to give their first blessings and for their personal needs in daily life. The priests also receive a beautiful hand-sewn confessional stole and a leather journal filled with encouragement, prayers and well wishes from parishioners throughout the diocese.
A Note of Thanks
The Kneelers for Priests Pilgrimage program relies on the help of many volunteers! We extend a heartfelt “thank you” to all of our Mary’s Sons helpers, to those who assist with delivering the kneelers to the parishes and other locations, and to a very special person (who wishes to remain anonymous) who painstakingly creates the beautiful confessional stoles each year. We would like to thank our wonderful priests and their administrative staff for their support and assistance in making the Kneeler Pilgrimage possible.
We are especially grateful for all of the prayers that have been offered by the laity for our priests and for our ministry.
All of us at Mary’s Sons Apostolate send our best wishes and continued prayers for a joyful priesthood to all of our newly ordained priests.