May 19, 1973

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From my weekly letter in the parish bulletin:

Saturday of this weekend (May 19) marks the 39th anniversary of my ordination as a priest. I can remember my ordination day as clear as a bell! It was a beautiful day (not unlike the one forecast for today) and I remember driving from the seminary to the cathedral in my blue Volkswagen - with the all the windows down. I was somewhat nervous but mostly excited about what was going to happen that day when Cardinal Medeiros laid his hands on my head and anointed my hands with chrism.

Although I could never have dreamed or anticipated then what these 39 years have brought, I am grateful for every one of them: for five years at St. Ann Parish in Quincy; for four years at the University of Notre Dame in graduate studies and positions in seminary formation and campus ministry; for nine years at St. Ann University Parish in Boston serving the campuses of Northeastern University and Emerson College; for three years at St. Joseph Parish in Medway; for ten years in my first pastorate at Our Lady Help of Christians Parish in West Concord; and for eight years here at Holy Family Parish.

The life of the Catholic Church over those years has included great joy and tragic sadness. For the former we offer God our praise and thanksgiving, for the latter we ask the Lord for his mercy and healing… Still, in every one of those years I have counted myself blessed to serve God’s people as a priest and blessed by the people it’s been my privilege to serve. I thank God for all of you! Please pray for my ordination classmates and for me.

(And a Happy Anniversary to Deacon Greg at The Bench who's celebrating on this same date the fifth anniversary of his ordination to the diaconate!)

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