June 19, 2009 - June 19, 2010

"On the forthcoming Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Friday 19 June 2009 – a day traditionally devoted to prayer for the sanctification of the clergy –, I have decided to inaugurate a “Year for Priests” in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the “dies natalis” of John Mary Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests worldwide.  This Year, meant to deepen the commitment of all priests to interior renewal for the sake of a stronger and more incisive witness to the Gospel in today’s world, will conclude on the same Solemnity in 2010."

Pope Benedict XVI, Letter dated June 16, 2009 proclaiming the Year for Priests.

Resources:

from the Vatican official website:
  - http://www.vatican.va/special/anno_sac/index_en.html

from the USCCB official website:
  - http://www.usccb.org/yearforpriests/