"Where does time go?" That is a statement that many of us make, especially as we grow older. Since I am looking at my 60th birthday (in October), I can honestly say that time seems to be going faster than I remember it passing not that long ago. This past Thursday, St. Mary of the Springs in Hot Springs started a celebration of the 150th anniversary as a parish, making it one of the oldest parishes in Arkansas. Since my roots are in Hot Springs, I can honestly say, I remember the 100th anninversary Mass at St. Mary's as I would have been about 9 years old, and served that Mass as well as the 12:15 Mass every Sunday there.
The Arkansas Catholic had a very nice article about St. Mary's in its May 4 edition which included a picture of and quotes from my godmother, Nat Martin, who was baptized there 91 years ago and has been a parishioner there longer than anyone who is alive now. St. Mary's has always been known as the "tourist" parish, as the pews sometimes have more visitors than parishioners in them.
After having two pastors for a combined total of 60 years from 1913-1974 (Monsignor Carroll, 40 years and Monsignor Gaffney, 20 years), the parish has had a number of different pastors since then, including Monsignor Leo Riedmueller of fairly recent times who was there as pastor for 18 years. Monsignor Gaffney was the pastor there during my formative years and was a great influence on my vocation to the priesthood. While associate pastors came and went pretty quickly during those years (one or two years each), the consistency of pastor and my serving Mass every Sunday (and a lot of First Saturdays and funerals) along with my brothers, led me to believe that God wanted me to be on the altar every Sunday (and Saturday night) as a priest called to serve God's people on the altar and in so many other ways. As I prepare to celebrate by 33rd year as a priest (May 31) and start my 10th year as pastor of this wonderful parish, I give thanks to God for the "staying power" of churches and church families like St. Mary's and the witness of priests who inspire vocations and care so faithfully for the flock entrusted to them by the bishop.
I know that I am truly blessed to be here at this time of my priesthood! Thanks to all of you who pray for and support me in my priesthood. God bless you!
The Arkansas Catholic had a very nice article about St. Mary's in its May 4 edition which included a picture of and quotes from my godmother, Nat Martin, who was baptized there 91 years ago and has been a parishioner there longer than anyone who is alive now. St. Mary's has always been known as the "tourist" parish, as the pews sometimes have more visitors than parishioners in them.
After having two pastors for a combined total of 60 years from 1913-1974 (Monsignor Carroll, 40 years and Monsignor Gaffney, 20 years), the parish has had a number of different pastors since then, including Monsignor Leo Riedmueller of fairly recent times who was there as pastor for 18 years. Monsignor Gaffney was the pastor there during my formative years and was a great influence on my vocation to the priesthood. While associate pastors came and went pretty quickly during those years (one or two years each), the consistency of pastor and my serving Mass every Sunday (and a lot of First Saturdays and funerals) along with my brothers, led me to believe that God wanted me to be on the altar every Sunday (and Saturday night) as a priest called to serve God's people on the altar and in so many other ways. As I prepare to celebrate by 33rd year as a priest (May 31) and start my 10th year as pastor of this wonderful parish, I give thanks to God for the "staying power" of churches and church families like St. Mary's and the witness of priests who inspire vocations and care so faithfully for the flock entrusted to them by the bishop.
I know that I am truly blessed to be here at this time of my priesthood! Thanks to all of you who pray for and support me in my priesthood. God bless you!