By Thomas McKenna, Executive Director, CCC-USA

The international conference of the Confraternities of Catholic Clergy from the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom took place from January 13-17 in Rome this year. I serve as the Executive Director of the American association and was a member of the organizing committee.

It was an inspiring opportunity to spend five days together with wonderful priests and several holy cardinals. And it afforded me the occasion to pass through the Holy Doors of the four major basilica’s to gain the indulgences for the Jubilee year.

Founded by an American priest, Father Robert Levis, in 1975, the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy is a grassroots association of Catholic priests worldwide. It grew out of the post-conciliar turmoil of the 1970s to encourage clergy to stay true to their vocation.

Day 1

On Tuesday January 14, the first full day of the conference, we had a beautiful Mass with Cardinal Gerhard Mueller at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Wall. Later he gave a beautiful conference talk to the priests about their vocation. I had the opportunity to pass through the Holy Door at this Basilica.

Day 2

The next day we had Holy Mass with Cardinal Robert Sarah at the Basilica of St. Mary Major. In this basilica they have the relics of the crib where our Lord was born. In the evening we had a lecture by Cardinal Sarah followed by dinner. We were blessed to have Cardinal Burke and Cardinal Sarah join us. It was an enjoyable conversation with such illustrious prelates.

Day 3

Thursday we had Cardinal Raymond Burke celebrate Mass at the Basilica of Saint John Lateran. Later that day, His Eminence gave a conference talk on the sacred vocation of the priesthood back at the conference venue and then joined us for dinner. Another very inspiring day.

Conclusion

The closing Mass was celebrated by Cardinal Burke on Friday, this time in the glorious Saint Peter’s Basilica. After four days of inspiring conferences presented by leading cardinals and theologians in the church today, the priests headed home to their respective countries inspired and renewed in their vocation to spread the gospel of the Lord. I was very privileged to have been a part of this event.