By Msgr. James R. Tracy
A group of Catholic priests from different parts of the country met at the end of June for four days at the retreat house sponsored by the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Infant Jesus in the bucolic setting off Kresson Road in Cherry Hill.
It was a prayerful experience with only one topic, which all of us have spent a lifetime discovering. With two and sometimes three sessions a day, we tried to unpack Father James Martin’s recent book, “Learning To Pray: A Guide For Everyone.” In addition to sharing insights on what is central to priestly life and also for all of God’s people, we were treated to the warm hospitality of the Franciscan sisters in a comfortable facility perfect for such an occasion.
This was not the first time we have gathered. It all began 25 years ago in Rome, a fraternity that has continued every year since. The Pontifical North American College – which trains seminarians for multiple dioceses in the United States – also sponsors a three-month sabbatical program for priests who have been in ministry for a number of years. It is known as the Institute for Continuing Theological Education.
In September 1997, we gathered for the first time with the blessings of our bishops to undergo a refresher course in Scripture and theology and to take time away from the busyness of pastoral ministry. This time together was such a rewarding experience – where strangers in the beginning became friends – that we decided to meet again the following year for a week in Florida during January. Who could resist? We further decided to continue the annual sabbatical reunion, but in late June. We started out with 18 priests participating; we are now down to 12 due to age and the deaths of five regulars.
The United States is well-represented in our group. In addition to New Jersey, the priests come from Florida, Missouri, Illinois, California, Wisconsin, Texas, Maryland, Ohio, Alabama, Nevada, and Washington, D.C. We have traveled to one of these states each year and were hosted by the resident priest from that particular diocese. We met in the Diocese of Camden for the first time in 2003, at the St. Pius X Spiritual Life Center in Blackwood. We have come together for the last two years with the Franciscan Sisters in Cherry Hill. Since it is such a welcoming venue, we have already signed up for the next two years.
The schedule for each reunion is the same, and the program has varied from outside speakers addressing current theological or religious topics to our own personal sharing, which has truly deepened over time. On the 10th anniversary of our sabbatical, we returned to Rome and had the opportunity to meet various cardinals of the Church and receive tours of their Curial offices. We saw something of the inner workings of the Vatican. We also visited the Papal Gardens at the Pope’s summer villa.
Two of our yearly participants were born in different countries and wanted us to share in their homelands. In June 2013, we ventured to Vietnam and learned much about the growing Catholic population, the abundance of priestly vocations and the history of America’s involvement in the Vietnam War. In 2015, we were invited to Ireland, as one of the priests who is now an American never lost his Irish roots and wanted us to experience the Emerald Isle through his eyes.
All 12 of us who continue to meet each year in person are also in contact with each other by Zoom the first Tuesday of every month. We have seen technology develop over the years, and even though we are now in our 70s and 80s – with me being the oldest of the group at 86 – we are trying to keep up with the times.
It is strange how a single encounter 25 years ago in Rome can have such an impact on the personal lives of single men who are now in their late stages of life and who continue to share such bonds of friendship. We feel so blessed to have been chosen by God to priestly service during these many decades and even in retirement in our own ways, in our own dioceses. Since Jesus tells us that “the harvest is rich but the laborers are few,” we find joy in our senior years to still play a role in helping to build up the vineyard of the Lord.
Msgr. James R. Tracy is a retired priest of the Diocese.
at the bottom and then tap “Add to Home Screen”
