Celebrating priesthood, in their own words
Bishop Michael Olson addresses several priests during an ordination jubilee celebration hosted at the Fort Worth Club Nov. 20, 2024. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)
FORT WORTH — Bishop Michael Olson hosted the priests of the diocese for a fraternal lunch, especially to recognize the priests who celebrated milestone ordination anniversaries this year — including his own 30th anniversary of priesthood on June 3.
Several of the honored clergy each reflected on their years of priesthood with their responses to simple questions.
What brings you joy as a priest?
“Bringing ministry to people is the main thing. I enjoy being with them. I enjoy celebrating the Eucharist and confession and many of the other sacraments that I'm involved in and being with the people at Mass and at the many ministries that they're involved in.”
- Rev. John Mark Klaus, TOR, (25 years)
What is a blessing of being a parish priest?
“There is so much. Getting involved in the lives of the people who trust us as a pastor, and then helping them with whatever they need. Words cannot describe.
“God has given me that blessing to be their pastor, to listen to their problems, at the same time, joys and sorrows. As a priest, you have a blessing to be involved the lives of those people and taking part in every celebration, whether it's joyful or sorrowful. That's one of the great blessings I would consider that I have received.”
- Rev. Mariya James Susai Manickam, SAC (10 years)
How have you experienced God’s presence in your ministry?
“The priestly life has reaffirmed my calling as a Capuchin, as a Franciscan. In the end, we see the priestly life as an expression of our closeness, of our presence, a way of communicating God by living the values of the Franciscan order to which I belong. It brings great joy to my heart because I do feel identified with the grace of God. He is able to communicate through me compassion, mercy, and forgiveness.”
- Rev. Roberto Viveros Rosales, OFM Cap (15 years)
What is a high point of being a priest?
“The priests that came into my life, as I was growing up, the pastors and then priests with whom I had a connection. Indeed, they were exemplary. By looking at them, we had a deeper desire to grow. That was an inspiration. And I'm proud to say that I'm the first one from my parish as a priest, and the first one from my diocese to join the Pallottines.”
- Rev. Christopher Columbus, SAC (10 years)
What has helped you remain a faithful priest?
“The source of my strength is my prayer life: the Liturgy of the Hours that you pray every day. The best source of my strength is my celebration of the holy Mass. That gives you that energy, that spirit, that you are God’s servant and that keeps you going. You get up in the morning, you do your prayer, you go to church, you celebrate the Mass, and then you are sent forth to serve, to serve the people of God.”
- Rev. Alexander Ambrose, HGN (15 years)
What are your favorite things about being a priest?
“Bringing the sacraments to people. I’m very blessed that God loved me and chose me, a sinner, in my weakness.
“I trust in Him. If I go through a tough time, a struggle, I always come to Him, especially in confession. He said trust in Him, and He will sanctify us. Come to Him as often as you can, in good times and in bad.”
- Rev. Francis Tan Tien Ta, CRM (10 years)
Why is it important to celebrate these milestone anniversaries?
“It's very important for priests to come together, to experience and share their joys as well as their challenges in ministering as priests in our contemporary society. The priesthood is a very unique vocation, and there's an old saying that nobody understands a priest like another priest. The more opportunities our men have to come together just to recreate, to enjoy a meal, to golf, other things like that, is the more it facilitates their fraternity and the strength of their ministry as priests in our diocese.”
- Most Rev. Michael Olson, STD, MA (30 years)
Priests who celebrated milestone anniversaries in 2024 are:
65 Years
- Rev. Msgr. Joseph Scantlin – 5/23/1959
40 Years
- Rev. Richard Flores – 6/9/1984
- Rev. Hector Medina – 6/23/1984
35 Years
- Rev. Sergio Rizo – 5/27/1989
30 Years
- Bishop Michael Olson – 6/3/1994
25 Years
- Rev. John Mark Klaus, TOR – 11/20/1999
20 Years
- Rev. Richard Collins – 5/29/2004
- Rev. John Perikomalayil – 1/17/2004
15 Years
- Rev. John Pacheco – 5/23/2009
- Rev. Alexander Ambrose – 2/3/2009
- Rev. Benjamin Hembrom – 5/18/2009
- Rev. Lawrence Nguyen – 1/10/2009
- Rev. Babji Merugu, SAC – 4/30/2009
- Rev. David Ampofo – 7/11/2009
- Rev. Roberto Viveros Rosales, OFMCap – 11/14/2009
10 Years
- Rev. Alphonsus Ba Do – 6/8/2014
- Rev. Mariya James Susai Manickam, SAC – 5/7/2014
- Rev. Francis Tan Tien, CRM – 6/8/2014
- Rev. Christopher Columbus – 5/12/2014
- Rev. Peter Chrysologus Tuyen Quang Dinh, CRM – 6/8/2014
Priests from around the diocese socialize during an ordination jubilee celebration honoring priests who hit milestone anniversaries, on Nov. 20, 2024 at Fort Worth Club. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)