Ten years ago, Bishop McManus decided to begin a fund-raiser for retired priests and the “Celebrate Priesthood! – Taste of the Diocese” gala was born.
“I had the keen sense,” Bishop McManus said, “that a lot of our priests were still reeling from the fallout of the sexual abuse crisis in terms of the morale among the clergy. I think in some ways some of the priests felt beaten up and underappreciated and guilty by association. So I said, ‘We have to do something about this.’”
Bishop McManus met with Michael P. Gillespie, director of the Office of Stewardship and Development, and others in the diocese and they decided that the clergy needed to be celebrated.
“It was very successful from the get-go,” Bishop McManus said. “Every year, attendance has increased, and it has had a real positive effect on the morale of the priests in the Diocese of Worcester.”
Each year, more sponsors take part, and more priests, seminarians and parishioners attend the event that benefits the Priests Retirement Fund.
“In clerical circles,” Bishop McManus said, “nothing travels more quickly than success stories. So, a number of priests started to come.”
All priests receive complimentary tickets. This year Celebrate Priesthood! will be held on Thursday, Oct. 26.
Bishop McManus didn’t want a formal sit-down fund-raising dinner because he said he had “spent so many years of my life being locked into these endless dinners.”
Instead, he preferred creating several serving stations so people could mingle with one another more easily. More than 20 parishes and restaurants each year prepare the food at no cost.
The gala was held at Mechanics Hall the first two years and then in the atrium of St. Vincent Hospital for four years. In 2020, due to the pandemic, the event was held mostly virtual with a small gathering at the lower hall at St. Paul Cathedral. Nevertheless, $165,000 was raised. Saint Paul Diocesan Jr./Sr. High School will host the event for the third consecutive year in its gymnasium.
Last year, after costs, $185,000 was raised, the most in the event’s history, but for many years the cost for the care of the retired priests has exceeded resources by an average of $500,000, according to Mr. Gillespie. There are currently 46 retired priests, including 11 who live in the Southgate at Shrewsbury retirement community.
Over the years, Celebrate Priesthood! has raised $1,501,184, he said.
“I would hope that more bishops would start this because it’s had a very positive effect on the lives of our priests,” Bishop McManus said.
Another collection for retired priests, taken on Ash Wednesday since 2021, has raised an additional $376,291.
“I’ve always said that the people of the Diocese of Worcester have been extraordinarily generous,” Bishop McManus said, “especially when we have these natural disasters and I ask for the second collection in the parishes, it’s just amazing how generous the people are. So, we’ve been blessed with very good, faithful, Catholic people.”
Celebrate Priesthood! will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. “Bishop wanted it at a time where after work people could come together,” Mr. Gillespie said. “Volunteers from Chancery staff are pivotal for running the event every year. They are there from set-up to clean-up,” Mr. Gillespie said.
For Tickets
To purchase tickets at $100 each or to make a donation, visit worcesterdiocese.org/celebrate-priesthood, or call 508-929-4366, or mail to Celebrate Priesthood!, 49 Elm St., Worcester, MA 01609.
“The gala is also an opportunity to bring people together as a diocese,” Mr. Gillespie said. “People have the opportunity to see priests who they haven’t seen in a number of years to thank them for their service. It’s an opportunity to raise money, but it’s also an opportunity for building community.”
Mr. Gillespie believes this is the only diocese inviting priests and parishioners to a tasting event as a fundraiser.
“It would be great one day to have all parishes involved, setting up booths,” he said. “That would be a wonderful opportunity.”
Mr. Gillespie pointed out that the gala also provides a rare opportunity for priests, retired or active, to mingle with other priests. In addition, the event allows local restaurants to showcase themselves and parishes to share their ethnic food.
St. Andrew Bobola Parish in Dudley brings Polish food and St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Fitchburg donates calzones.
Bishop McManus is too busy mingling at the event to eat much, however.
“Sometimes if I get close enough to the Italian parishes, they’ll drag me over and give me something,” he said, “but I just don’t have time to eat.”
Many of the retired priests in the diocese aren’t fully retired in the traditional sense. They still help out whenever they can.
“We are blessed,” Bishop McManus said, “because many of those retired priests even into their 80s will make themselves available to fill in for someone who wants to take the weekend off or during summer vacation. They step up to the plate and they’ve done a great service to the church.”
Now it’s time for everyone else to step up to the plate to help the retired priests and have a plate of delicious food at the same time.