IFTTT Autopost 
June 27, 1998 was a very special day in my life and the lives of six other men of the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh, for it was our priesthood ordination day. So, today is our 25th priesthood anniversary – our Silver Anniversary.
That Saturday, Arturo Cabra, Dan Oschwald, Paul Parkerson, Drew Perry, Mac Raffo, Bill Upah, and I were ordained priests by the late Bishop F. Joseph Gossman in the Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Cary, North Carolina, U.S.A.
The following day, June 28, The Raleigh News & Observer labeled us “The Magnificent Seven” in a special article about the ordination. It was the Diocese of Raleigh’s largest priesthood ordination class ever…and since…as it turns out!
Today, Fr. Arturo is pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish in Fayetteville, N.C; Fr. Mac and Fr. Drew are both retired in North Carolina; Fr. Dan is the founding pastor of Mother Teresa Catholic parish in Cary, N.C.; Fr. Paul is in residence at St. Mary, Mother of the Church in Garner, N.C.; Fr. Bill is pastor of St. Therese in Wrightsville Beach, N.C.; and I’m a full-time missionary priest in Reitoca, F.M., Honduras in the Archdiocese of Tegucigalpa.
The last 25 years have, in one way, flown by. On the other hand, it seems much longer than 25 years, for I have experienced so many things. During the 25 years I’ve served in 3 parishes: St. Mark in Wilmington, N.C. (1998-2000 as parochial vicar); St. Catherine of Siena in Wake Forest, N.C. (2000-2006 as pastor); and the Basilica Shrine of St. Mary parish (2006-2018 as pastor). During that time, I’ve also worked as a chaplain for the Wilmington Police Department, done prison ministry, and taught sociology part-time at North Carolina State University, the University of North Carolina at Wilmington; and UNC-Pembroke. Plus, I was the diocesan director for foreign missions for most of my priesthood.
It’s been a total joy being a priest, and I can truly say that my life experiences before priesthood as a psychiatric-mental health nurse; university professor; and sociologist have been a tremendous help in my pastoral ministry. Perhaps the biggest surprise God had in store for me, however, was guiding me to also be a writer. In fact, as I write this note, I am celebrating the publication of my 50th book! Wonders never cease!
Now, I look forward to the next 25 years of priesthood to see what exciting adventures God has in store for me. I just pray that I can serve God by serving others to the very end…with my boots on!
