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Ordained: May 18, 1950, St.Mary’s Cathedral
Current assignment: Retired – Pastor Emeritus.Pastor for 30 years, 1971-2001, at St.Anthony’s Church in Watertown.Propagation
of the Faith Director for 30 years, 1959-1989.

1.) What's your favorite prayer?
The Mass; the Liturgy of the Hours; the Rosary

2.) A holy moment in your priesthood:
On October 16, 1961 at 8 p.m. Bishop Navagh had a private audience with Pope John
XXIII. He took me with him to the papal apartment in the Vatican. After they had talked privately for some time, I was invited to join them in the reception
room. The Holy Father asked me about my family. He gave me rosary beads for my mother and father. The papal photographer took our
picture with the Pope. When I knelt down to receive the Pope’s blessing, he told me that when he was a young priest he had accompanied his bishop
(the Bishop Bergamo) to receive the blessing of the Pope. Pope Pius X told him “Be to your Bishop ‘Servus prudens ac fidelis’ – a servant
prudent and faithful.” Pope John gave that same advice to me. After the blessing before we left he said, “coraggio” – courage. That
was the last word I heard him say. The second Vatican Council began October 11, 1962. He died June 6, 1963. His terminal
illness was his preparatory sacrifice for the council. Bishop Navagh died at the council in October 2, 1965.

3.) Something you've learned from your brother priests (or a particular priest):
To talk less and listen more; from Msgr. Floyd Brown, gratitude and appreciation of the talents God has given our priests.

5.) Favorite part of being a priest:
Celebrating daily Mass and giving a brief homily.

6.) Advice for young people considering a vocation
You are never too young to consider what you want to do in life. I remember wanting to become a priest when I became an altar boy
in the 6th grade of St. Mary’s School in Ogdensburg. Father Ed Burns taught me the Latin responses so that I could serve Mass. In
the early 50’s as a young priest at Holy Family in Watertown, I anointed his mother. Go to weekday Mass and receive the sacraments
regularly and frequently.

7.) Something about you that few people would know:
I save things which are useful or of historical value to give to someone in the future. E.g. I was given many pictures and post
cards of Ogdensburg more than 30 years ago.

8.) Favorite temporal (nonchurchy) things:
I skied for 50 years. For the past 19 years I swim at least 3 times weekly for 40 minutes (40 is a biblical number).

9.) Favorite food:
Pasta and fruit that is in season. (frutta di stagione) Especially New York State apples.

10.) Favorite Saint:
Blessed Virgin Mary; St. Francis of Assisi