On the feast of St. Mathias, priests who serve in the Arlington Diocese assembled for fellowship at the annual Priest’s Jubilee Mass. Diocesan priests, order priests and those assisting here from other dioceses were present. Their voices, about 50-strong, resounded through the church when they raised them in song. Celebrated by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde, the Mass was offered this year on May 14 at Christ the Redeemer Church in Sterling.

"My dear brother priests, it is with great joy that I gather with you today to celebrate the various anniversaries of our ordination to the priesthood," said Bishop Loverde.

Nineteen priests were commemorating special jubilees. They were Msgr. Thomas Scannell (retired), 65 years; Father Louis Gagnard and Third Order Regular of St. Francis Father Aidan Mullaney, 50 years; Msgr. Thomas Cassidy and Franciscan Friars of the Atonement Father Michael Daniel, 45 years; Msgr. James McMurtrie, 40 years; Father Clarence Watkins and Oblate of St. Francis de Sales Father Robert Brown, 35 years; Father Daniel Hamilton, Order of the Cistercians of Strict Observance Father Vincent Collins, Missionhurst Father Joseph Giordano, Third Order Regular of St. Francis Father John Grinnen, Franciscan Friars of the Atonement C. Donald Howard; Father Anthony Mastroeni; and Franciscan Father Robert Menard, 30 years; Father Jerome Fasano, Father Stephen Roszel, Father Joseph Mukui Kimatta of the Archdiocese of Nairobi; and Society of the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles Joseph Salazar, 25 years.

In his homily, the bishop referenced the day’s Gospel reading (Jn 15:9-17) which begins "As the Father loves me, so I also love you … No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (Jn 15:13)."

"On the day of our ordination, each of us made our own this great commandment to love by pledging to lay down our lives as priests in service to our brothers and sisters," said Bishop Loverde. "As we gather, though, a dark shadow of suspicion has been cast over all priests who perform their ministry with honesty and integrity and often with heroic self sacrifice," he said, referring to the current sexual abuse scandal by some clergy in other dioceses.

The situation "calls us to stand up with fresh courage and zeal to recommit ourselves to the task of being good shepherds, and therefore to lay down our lives for those entrusted to our care," he said. It is especially important now to minister to the faithful, and pledge ourselves anew as holy priests, he said.

Because human beings are imperfect, said Bishop Loverde, "We cannot faithfully fulfill our priestly vocations apart from Christ, our Savior and head." Holiness must be strived for daily and in each circumstance. "If understood correctly and taken seriously, is very demanding," he said.

Living concretely in Christ’s love is done by keeping His commandments, he said. "It’s that simple and that challenging." Bishop Loverde said that the longer he is a priest, the more he is convinced that "prayer is essential to a holy priestly life."

Offering encouragement to them during the current "purifying cleansing" occurring in the Church, the bishop said that if the priests experience harsh words from parishioners or people on the street, "be not discouraged." He reminded them that God is in charge and will ultimately be victorious. As he looked out on the wide age range of the dozens of clergy in the church, he thanked them for their decades of service.

"Dear brothers, may Christ the High Priest bless you with His richest blessings and may the Blessed Virgin Mary, in whose month of May many of you were ordained, always accompany you and give you consolation in your priestly lives and ministry," he said.

After Mass, the priests met for a reception and luncheon.