A gift to be honored
Bishop Michael Olson addresses priests from the Fort Worth Diocese gather to celebrate several anniversaries of ordination at the Fort Worth Club, November 19, 2025. (NTC/Rodger Mallison)
FORT WORTH — It was a meal of thanksgiving, but no turkey was served.
Bishop Michael Olson honored more than 20 priests who celebrated milestone anniversaries of their ordination in 2025 with a luncheon at the Fort Worth Club on Nov. 19.
The prelate welcomed approximately 70 priests to the meal with a prayer of gratitude, thanking God for the gift of a priestly vocation and the “desire you placed in our hearts to serve Your Son and His people.”
Before dismissing the priests to continue their lives of service, Bishop Olson closed the luncheon by recalling remarks that Pope Leo XIV made about the priesthood.
Remembering and renewing the grace of a priestly vocation, said the bishop, “joins our hearts in the heart of Christ and our lives in His life, and thus enables us to bring the Word and the sacraments of salvation to God's holy people in order to bring about a world reconciled in love.”
Priests recognized at the celebration included:
65 years
-
Rev. John Stasiowski
50 years
-
Rev. Dennis Smith
45 years
-
Very Rev. Karl Schilken
40 years
-
Rev. Peter Wiafe Akenteng
35 years
-
Rev. Msgr. Francis Boakye Tawiah
30 years
- Rev. Joy Joseph, TOR
- Very Rev. Daniel Kelley
25 years
- Rev. Michael Ciski, TOR
- Rev. Sojan George Puthiyaparampil
- Very Rev. John Robert Skeldon
- Rev. Vinh Van Vu, CRM
20 years
-
Rev. Claudius Stephen Mndolwa, SAC
15 years
- Rev. Sam Ferix Antony Jesu Antony, SAC
- Rev. Simon Harkins, FSSP
- Rev. Fernando Preciado Villegas
- Rev. Xavier Silvadasan, HGN
10 years
- Rev. Keith Hathaway
- Rev. Ronaldo Mercado
5 years
- Rev. Zachary Burns, TOR
- Rev. Ruben Tena Guzman, CORC
- Rev. Pedro Javier Martinez
- Rev. Matthew Simons, TOR