Father Junior Flores, pastor of Christ the Good Shepherd Parish in Vineland, followed through on his promise to parishioners and plunged into the icy Atlantic Ocean on Jan. 17 – to support the work of his parish’s Saint Vincent de Paul Society.
As he stood on the beach before the plunge, Father Flores reflected on why moments like this matter, saying it’s important for priests to step out of familiar roles and truly be with the people they serve.
“Why can’t a priest do this?” he said, noting that evangelization often happens not from a pulpit, but through shared experiences and authentic witness in everyday life.
After returning to shore on the chilly Saturday afternoon, Father Flores admitted the cold was far more intense than expected – but worth it.
“I did a full head dive,” he said, his voice shaky from the frigid water. He added that the plunge was a reminder that priesthood, like faith itself, requires stepping outside one’s comfort zone.
“Church can be wherever we’re at,” he said, pointing to the powerful witness of simply showing up among people from all walks of life.
Father Flores set out to raise $1,000 for his parish’s Saint Vincent de Paul Society. As of press deadline, he had raised $3,810. “I’m really humbled,” he said.
Parishioner Jami Fehrenbach summed it up best, calling Father Flores “an amazing pastor” whose selfless act inspired generosity and excitement throughout the parish. Whether motivated by charity, curiosity, or courage, the response was clear: one priest’s leap of faith made a real difference – both in the water and far beyond it.
Audio by freelance photographer Tim Hawk contributed to this report.
To read more about the plunge, which also supported the Special Olympics of New Jersey, check out Father’s reflection in the Jan. 25 bulletin at christtheshepherdvineland.org.
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