On Father’s Day (June 15th, 2025) St. Mary’s Parish Community had the pleasure of honoring Fr. Vincent for his upcoming 40 – year Anniversary of his ordination as priest. The actual date is coming in July on the 20th; but we felt it fitting to celebrate on Father’s Day, knowing many would be away in July.
Fr. Mark gave a nice introductory remarks and quoted our new Pope Leo the XIV:
“I thank you for your lives given in service to the Kingdom, for your daily labors, for so much generosity in the exercise of the ministry, for all that you live in silence, and that at times is accompanied by suffering or misunderstanding.”
Pope Leo XIV gave this reminder when receiving all priests of the Diocese of Rome in the Vatican this morning, along with deacons and seminarians of the Diocese.
Before addressing those before him, Pope Leo said, “I would like to ask for a strong round of applause for all of you, those of you who are here and all the priests and deacons of Rome!”
‘Precious in the eyes of God’
The Holy Father emphasized that he greets them all with affection and friendship, and saying he wished to have this encounter in order to get to know them more closely and begin walking together.
While recognizing they carry out different services, he stressed, “you are all precious in the eyes of God and in the realization of His plan.”
