June 24, 2018

Newly ordained priest celebrates Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Stanislaus Basilica in Chicopee

REGIONAL
Story and photos by Dave Martin

Conventual Franciscan Friar of Our Lady of the Angels Province, Father Luis Palacios Rodriguez celebrates a Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Basilica in Chicopee on Sunday, June 24.

CHICOPEE — Newly ordained Conventional Franciscan Father Luis Palacios Rodriguez, of Our Lady of the Angels Province, thanked parishioners as he celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Basilica in Chicopee Sunday, June 24 at 12 p.m.
Father Palacious, a native of Acapulco, Mexico, has been serving at the parish for the last year, in preparation for his ordination. The Mass was attended by nearly 400 people including two new priests, Conventual Franciscan Fathers Milton Torres Albarran and Emanuel Ventura Vasconcelos. Both were ordained with Father Palacios on June 22 at St. Louis Parish in Buffalo, New York. 

“I have been blessed to learn so much from the parishioners at this Basilica of St. Stanislaus who have only welcomed me and taught me how to serve Christ in them,” said Father Palacios.

Father Palacios also thanked Conventional Franciscan Father Joseph Benicewicz, the pastor of St. Stanislaus Basilica, who he said worked patiently with him during his pastoral year and diaconate ministry. Father Benicewicz explained that the Mass of Thanksgiving is often referred to as  the first Mass for a newly ordained priest. But he added that technically the Ordination Mass comes first and then Father Palacious concelebrated a Mass the day before at St. Louis Parish in Buffalo. He said the Mass of Thanksgiving is an opportunity for Father Palacios to come back to the parish, be the principal celebrant and celebrate the blessings that God has shared with him in his calling to Franciscan life and the priesthood with the parish community. 

“Father Luis, his humbleness, his desire to serve and his ability to be willing to learn in that way, he certainly made himself a part of this local community. He was very receptive to what he learned from his ministry to the people and really has a warm and genuine heart. I’m sure he will do well as a priest,” said Father Benicewicz, who was able to attend the ordination.

Father Benicewicz said parishioners were excited that the aunt and mother of Father Palacios were able to travel from Mexico to attend this event. Father Palacios received a traditional blessing from his mother, Carmen Rodriguez Reyes, in the church at the end of the Mass. Father Palacios also gave many blessings to others in the church, as well as during the Polish and Mexican dinner served afterwards at the reception hall in St. Stanislaus School.

“As I begin priestly ministry, I really ask for the prayers and blessing of all those who are going to be watching this interview, and be assured of my blessing for all of you,” said Father Palacios.

Father Palacios said it is his goal to continue to serve the people of God everywhere in his new assignment at St. Philp Benizi Catholic Church in Jonesboro, Georgia.

For a video version of this story, tune into an upcoming edition of “Real to Reel,” the Diocese of Springfield’s weekly television newsmagazine that airs Saturday evenings  at 7 p.m. on WWLP-22 NEWS.