Wisdom from our jubilarians

We love how this edition of The Catholic Post is bookended with high school graduates on the front page and ends with our jubilarian section honoring those priests, religious, and deacons marking milestone anniversaries in their vocations.

Our jubilarians, while not all elderly or retired, are already fulfilling the wishes of Pope Francis by sowing the seeds of their wisdom gained from life experience. And our readers, young or old — and especially members of the Class of 2022 — would do well to have those seeds take root in their own lives.

Jennifer Willems, who spent months compiling and editing the jubilarian section, asked the 10 priests in the diocese observing their 25th anniversary of ordination in 2022 to share their greatest lessons thus far. Here is just a sample of their wisdom:

“Kindness will always speak to others much more than any other way of handling a situation.”Father Greg Nelson

“Christians must seek to live their faith with the intent of being God’s ray of light and love, and his flavorful salt to each person they encounter.” Father Bo Schmitt

“Rely not on my own strengths, gifts, abilities, thoughts, but on grace. God works through these capacities, but I must allow Him to enter into and work through them.” — Father Chris Haake

“Every vocation is a call to give of ourselves, to spend ourselves in love whether for one’s parishioners or for one’s spouse and family.”Msgr. Jason Gray

“Little things matter.”Father David Whiteside

And don’t miss the advice that Bishop John J. Myers gave to priests at a retreat, including jubilarian Father Carl LoPresti: “Learn to love your people — even the stinkers.”

The jubilarian men and women share so much more. We congratulate and thank them for their faith-filled service, and invite our readers to do the same. Addresses are provided for each jubilarian. — Thomas J. Dermody

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