[Askel5]

Thank you very much. I shall circulate it on what email lists of faithful Catholics I belong. If nothing else, perhaps we can provide sufficient support to the congregation that they will ensure the good father's legacy lives on.

I am struck by the retirement ... a priest at my own parish was asked to stay on well past his 75th birthday.

Thanks, austinTparty.

[patent]

Thanks for the bump. Its bad enough that the confirmation was as scandalous as it was. Losing a priest like this would be inexecusable.

patent

[austinTparty]

This is just the sort of priest the Church can ill afford to lose... Age, as is proven by the tenure of the popes, is no indication of ability to lead spiritually.

Indeed, the priest who officiated at my wedding was 75 at the time and is one of the most physically and spiritually vigorous men I have ever known. He's officially "retired" now at 86, but still celebrates mass at various locations in Paris, and I make it a point to attend his services whenever I am there. In fact, I even travelled there to have my daughter baptized 2 years ago... I wish there were many more like him and the priest mentioned in this article.