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WorldPriest: Uniting Heaven and Earth Through Prayer
A Mission Rooted in Prayer
WorldPriest was founded in 2003 by Marion Mulhall, an Irish laywoman whose moment of inspiration during the World Day of Prayer for Priests the year before became her lifelong mission. Drawing on her background in advertising and communications, Marion felt called to use modern media to strengthen the Church—to affirm, inspire, and inform both priests and laity through the power of prayer and participation.
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Through her tireless dedication, what began as a simple vision in Ireland grew into a global apostolate, connecting people of faith across continents through media, devotion, and community.
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As the mission expanded, WorldPriest (USA) was established to continue this important work across North America. Richard G. Stewart, Jr., Ph.D. was deeply honored to be asked to serve as President and Chairman, helping to bring this movement of prayer and communication into a new generation. Serving alongside Marion Mulhall and the international WorldPriest team has been a privilege for him—witnessing firsthand how faith and technology can work together to lift up the priesthood and strengthen the Church worldwide.
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Also serving in leadership is Niall Kennedy, Chairman of WorldPriest (Ireland) and Director of WorldPriest (USA)—a devoted leader who has played a key role in expanding the Global Rosary Relay and building partnerships that span continents.
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At its heart, WorldPriest remains exactly what it was meant to be from the beginning: a living bridge between heaven and earth, linking millions of voices in prayer for the shepherds who guide us.
The Vision
As a life-long Catholic, Richard G. Stewart, Jr., Ph.D. was deeply honored when he was asked to serve as President and Chairman of WorldPriest (USA). For him, this role represented far more than leadership—it was stewardship. Stewardship, he often says, is part of his very DNA—a reflection of his calling, even echoed in his own last name.
Under his guidance, the mission of WorldPriest remains beautifully simple:
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To unite priests and laity so that everyone can enter a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.
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Richard G. Stewart, Jr., Ph.D. and his team fulfill this mission by maintaining a central resource website filled with faith formation tools, priestly support materials, and opportunities for lay engagement. Every article, video, and campaign is carefully crafted to affirm the priestly vocation, inspire the faithful, and nurture hearts and minds with truth and love.
The Global Rosary Relay
Perhaps the best-known expression of our mission is the Annual Global Rosary Relay for Priests… a breathtaking day when the entire world becomes a single circle of prayer. On this day, tens of thousands of parishes, dioceses, and religious communities in every time zone join together, offering the Rosary for the sanctification of priests.
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Each 'bead' of time connects one location to the next, forming a living chain that quite literally wraps the globe in intercession. It’s one of the few truly universal prayer events in modern history, and it continues to grow each year.
Supporting Those Who Shepherd
Priests today face immense pressures … spiritual, emotional, and practical. WorldPriest stands beside them, offering resources for homilies, pastoral care, and personal renewal. Through these efforts, priests receive not just prayers but concrete tools that help them stay strong, hopeful, and connected to the people they serve.
Empowering the Laity
The beauty of WorldPriest is that it gives every Catholic a way to participate in this mission of grace. We invite the faithful to pray the Rosary locally or globally, especially during the Global Rosary Relay … form parish or family prayer groups that “adopt” priests for ongoing intercession … and share WorldPriest stories, resources, and media, spreading light across digital frontiers.
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This is evangelization through participation — ordinary people, extraordinary results.
Faith Meets Technology
We use every modern means available to amplify timeless truth. Our website, livestreams, and social campaigns are designed not to entertain but to invite participation. In a world where faith can feel distant, we create proximity, turning screens into sanctuaries and online space into holy ground.​
When prayer meets technology, grace moves at the speed of light.
The Heart of the Work
Everything we do comes down to one simple conviction: When priests are strengthened, the whole Church is renewed. WorldPriest reminds us that our faith is communal — we’re bound together, priests and laity alike, in a shared call to holiness. Through prayer, encouragement, and education, we keep that bond alive and radiant with joy.
The Bottom Line
WorldPriest is proof that when faith and technology unite, miracles follow. It’s more than an apostolate; it’s a living testimony that the Church can thrive in any age when rooted in prayer and guided by love.
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Every Hail Mary, every shared post, every new partnership becomes another thread in the tapestry of grace that covers the earth.
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That’s the mission of WorldPriest: To bring light, unity, and hope wherever hearts are open and the call to serve still echoes.