Recently, the Church observed Priesthood Sunday and there were some parishioners who messaged or texted me to thank me for being a priest. That made me feel good.
Priesthood, after all, can be a long, thankless job. It can also be a rewarding & fulfilling life. It just depends upon the day and the circumstances. 🙂
But to celebrate Fifty Years of priesthood? That’s inhuman. That requires superpowers. And that is what we celebrated this morning at St. Bridget Church in Hobart: the 50th Ordination Anniversary of Fr. Dominic Bertino, KCHS.
I knew Fr. Bertino tangentially when I was a seminarian and worked at Camp Lawrence. But I really got to know him immediately after I was ordained because I was assigned as a full time instructor at Bishop Noll Institute in Hammond. Fr. Bertino was also teaching there and we had the opportunity to become good friends.
I consider myself lucky and blessed to have known “Dom” for all these years. I thank him for his yes to God which gave to us the gift of his priesthood. As he continues in his retired years, I wish him nothing but the best.
Happy Anniversary, my friend!
