Priests and parishioners from around the state gathered June 21 at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock to celebrate the jubilees of priests in the Diocese of Little Rock.
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor celebrated the Mass on the feast of St. Aloysius Gonzaga.
The saint experienced only three months of active ministry before dying of the plague, the bishop said in his homily. St. Aloysius was still in formation when he died and was never ordained a priest.
Despite this difference from the jubilarians celebrating many years of service, both St. Aloysius and the honored priests responded to God’s call.
“Our retirees and our jubilarians have worked in the Lord’s vineyard many times longer than Aloysius and they have borne the heat of the day year after year, facing challenges in ministry that Aloysius never had to face. … And yet what he and our jubilarians and our retirees have in common is the one thing that really matters,” he said. “He and they heard Jesus’ call to leave everything and follow Jesus, and that’s what you’ve done.”
Both the bishop and those attending applauded the service of the honored priests.
“This is not a Sunday obligation or anything like that,” Bishop Taylor said to those in attendance. “You came out of love. Your support for your priests in your parish today and in all things — you help us thrive. I want to acknowledge your contribution to the holiness of our priests and to thank you for that support.”
The priests honored for jubilees were:
Father Vic Bieberle, 60 years
Father Eugene Luke, OSB, 50 years
Father John Oswald, 50 years
Father Joseph L. Pallo, 50 years
Father David Bellinghausen, OSB, 25 years
Father Frank du Preez, 25 years
Father William A. Elser, 25 years
Father James P. West, 25 years
Throughout their years of service, the bishop said, they encountered many problems, but their dedication stands as a testament against tribulations like the clergy sex abuse scandals, and offers hope to the faithful.
“The background of all that the Church has been through these last decades, the holiness and perseverance and self-sacrificing faithfulness of you, our jubilarians and retirees, stands out in greater relief,” Bishop Taylor said. “We’re very grateful to you for your gift of self to us. We’re not quite ready to canonize you yet, but we are very proud of you and grateful for you.”
