A Long & Beautiful Journey: Reflecting on 40 Years of Priesthood on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Sunday, May 26th marks 40 years since I was ordained a Franciscan priest. I remember the day vividly as we processed into the Albany Cathedral and received the laying on of hands. It was a day of great rejoicing for myself, my family, and my Franciscan community. After Mass, I knelt before the altar and entrusted my priesthood into the hands of our Blessed Mother.

For 40 years, I have begun my day with a renewal of that prayer of consecration to Mary. She has kept me on the straight and narrow road and protected me from temptations and poor judgment. In my times of loneliness, she has reminded me that every Christian’s vocation is to follow in the footsteps of Her Son, Jesus; and His path led Him to the cross. Mary has helped me appreciate the countless blessings and joys of these 40 years – from the privilege of ministering to God’s holy people in one assignment only to be embraced by His people in the next assignment.

The other important element of these decades is that I have had the privilege of exercising my priesthood as a Franciscan. I honor and admire diocesan priests, but I cannot imagine any greater gift than to be a priest in the Franciscan Order. After my family, my Franciscan brothers have been the greatest influence on my life as a friar and a priest. As I have stood at the altar to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, or imparted absolution to a penitent, I know that it was my brothers who believed that I was capable of exercising the priesthood of Jesus Christ.

Today, my Franciscan priesthood is lived out in Mary’s community of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish. Like almost all of my past assignments, I can think of nowhere else that I would rather be stationed than here! I am grateful to God for the holy people of this parish family. Your example of what it means to be a Christian, inspires me to be a better priest. As we journey together as a community of believers, let us be of one and heart and mind serving the Lord as sons and daughters of Mary.

Let us lead others with Her to be embraced by Her Son, Jesus Christ, the great High priest.