This weekend as we welcome our newly ordained associate pastor, Fr. Javier Julio, I could not help but think how blessed our parish community has been these past 13 years to share in the early years of young priests’ ministry. They have enriched the faith of so many people at St. Mary’s, and we have all played a role in helping them grow in their lives as priests.
Who are they and where are they now?
Fr. Manny Clavijo came to St. Mary’s in 2005 as a newly ordained priest two weeks after I had arrived. Fr Adam Reid, who was ordained with Fr. Manny, followed him in 2008 for his second assignment. Fr. Marcin Nowicki then joined us in 2011 as a newly ordained priest, and he was followed by the newly ordained Fr. Juan Escudero in 2015.
These fine young associates have thrived in their priestly ministry in the years following their St. Mary’s experience. Father Manny is the pastor of Saint Mary of the Hills in Boylston and also the director of campus ministry at Anna Maria College. Father Adam is the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Webster and helping to oversee All Saints Academy in that town. After two years as pastor at Holy Cross in East Templeton, Fr. Marcin entered the U. S. Army and is now a chaplain at Fort Bragg, N. Carolina, the largest military installation in the world with over 50,000 military personnel. And we all know that Fr. Juan has just begun his life as a pastor at St. Denis in Douglas.
I am confident that Fr. Javier will also be warmly embraced by the St. Mary’s community. May his first years as a priest be richly blessed and may his presence among us be a blessing for us all.
Who are they and where are they now?
Fr. Manny Clavijo came to St. Mary’s in 2005 as a newly ordained priest two weeks after I had arrived. Fr Adam Reid, who was ordained with Fr. Manny, followed him in 2008 for his second assignment. Fr. Marcin Nowicki then joined us in 2011 as a newly ordained priest, and he was followed by the newly ordained Fr. Juan Escudero in 2015.
These fine young associates have thrived in their priestly ministry in the years following their St. Mary’s experience. Father Manny is the pastor of Saint Mary of the Hills in Boylston and also the director of campus ministry at Anna Maria College. Father Adam is the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Webster and helping to oversee All Saints Academy in that town. After two years as pastor at Holy Cross in East Templeton, Fr. Marcin entered the U. S. Army and is now a chaplain at Fort Bragg, N. Carolina, the largest military installation in the world with over 50,000 military personnel. And we all know that Fr. Juan has just begun his life as a pastor at St. Denis in Douglas.
I am confident that Fr. Javier will also be warmly embraced by the St. Mary’s community. May his first years as a priest be richly blessed and may his presence among us be a blessing for us all.
