Celebrating our priests

    At the “Celebrate Priesthood!” gala in St. Vincent Hospital’s atrium Oct. 18, Msgr. Richard E. Collette told Bishop McManus he’d thought maybe they could double last year’s $10,000 contribution from sales of his book, “Shepherds for my People.” But, he said, they tripled it. He gave Bishop McManus a check for $31,000 to benefit the priests’ retirement fund.  
    “Monsignor, I have two wishes,” Bishop McManus responded. “Write another book, and may you live many more years.”
    The retired priest had said he was called a “nut case” for writing a book at age 90 and going to parishes to sell it at 91. He said he’s visited 32 parishes. He thanked pastors and others for their support and help.
    Bishop McManus thanked Michael P. Gillespie, director of the diocesan Office of Stewardship and Development, whose office organized “Celebrate Priesthood!”    He asked those present to take time to look at the program books to see the names of many benefactors.
    In these turbulent and trying times for priests “this has been a major shot in the arm for me and for my priests,” the bishop said.
    Pictures of recently deceased priests were shown on a screens. The bishop asked people to pray for them and led a prayer himself.
    Seminarians and priests, including those visiting from Haiti for twinning celebrations, joined Bishop McManus and Bishop Reilly in singing the Salve Regina.
    Father Diego A. Buritica, associate pastor of St. Leo Parish in Leominster, closed with a prayer thanking God for the ministerial priesthood, and the common priesthood of all believers, and asking that God would “keep sending the power” of the Holy Spirit “and make the Church your witnesses in the world.”
    Father Robert A. Grattaroti, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Charlton, opened the evening with a prayer for all those who celebrate the priesthood and for those who don’t.
    More than 300 laypeople and nearly 100 priests attended the fifth annual gala for priests called “Taste of the Diocese.” Parish groups and ministries provided ethnic foods for tasting including African meat pies and doughnuts, French meat pies, Polish pierogis, Haitian beef dishes, guacamole and tortillas from the Hispanic community and Italian cookies. Various restaurants, catering and beverage businesses also supported the event offering tasting portions of their specialities.
   
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