October 21, 2023

Priests of the diocese gather for convocation

REGIONAL
By Carolee McGrath

 

 

SPRINGFIELD -The priests of the Diocese of Springfield gathered at Mountain View Grand Resort in Whitefield, N.H., Oct. 18-20 for a convocation. Springfield Bishop William D. Byrne called for the three-day convocation to give priests an opportunity to step away from their parish duties, to gather in fraternity and to grow in their faith.

“I called a convocation for the priests of the diocese as a time for us to renew and refresh and relax, to get away, to be brothers,” said Bishop Byrne. “It’s a time really to step away, hear good talks and renew ourselves and be better able to serve the people of the diocese.”

 In addition to being able to spend time away with brother priests in a beautiful setting, the convocation included Mass, Adoration, and inspiring talks.

“We spend most of our time in ministry to others, some joyous like weddings and baptisms; more often these days, sorrowful like funerals, being by their side as they die. It is very emotional and stressful,” said Father James Nolte, pastor of St. Patrick Parish in South Hadley. Father Nolte chairs the Clergy Continuing Education Committee, which organized the convocation.

“It’s a vocation. We’ve been given the call from God and we have been given the grace from God to live that call, but it is taxing. So we are going to speak with each other and share fellowship with each other and to take some time together,” Father Nolte said.

Currently there are 141 diocesan priests and two men in priestly formation for the Diocese of Springfield.

“I think I’m looking forward to observations and hopes for which way we should move forward in the diocese,” said Father Piotr Calik, vicar general for the Springfield Diocese and pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Indian Orchard.

Father Chris Hickey of the Archdiocese of Boston, spoke on the joy of the priesthood. Father Hickey is pastor of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, serving the towns of Norwell, Hanover and Pembroke. He also is a co-host on Catholic TV’s popular show, “Going My Way.”

“The first (talk) is how I got to where I got, how I became a priest and the joy of that, stumbling blocks around the way which is comical,” said Father Hickey. “The second hits the scandal. How do you stay happy in the midst of everything? Then we had the (church) closings and that was another time when people wanted to throw us out the window. The third section, I have some helpful hints that kept me joyful and happy. As I tell the guys I would do it all over again,” speaking of his vocation.

The last convocation held in the diocese was before the pandemic.

“This is an opportunity for us to get together. There are so many burdens for us in ministry. Sometimes it’s good to take a step back, have a moment of prayer, moment of fraternity, renew us so we can get back to the people we serve,” said Father David Aufiero, pastor of Holy Family Parish in South Deerfield.

Bishop Byrne celebrated Mass Thursday, Oct. 19, during which he honored 12 priests marking jubilees, including Father Jack Roach who is celebrating the 65^th anniversary of his priesthood.

A video version of this story will air tomorrow morning on “Real to Reel” which temporarily airs Sunday mornings at 6:30 a.m. on WWLP-22 NEWS.