A DIAMOND PLUS 3; AND A SILVER JUBILEE OF PRIESTHOOD CELEBRATED IN MY CIRCLE OF FRIENDS AND BY BELOVED COLLEAGUES TODAY...........

On June 6, 1948, in St. Mary's Cathedral in Kilkenny, Ireland, a 23 year old All Ireland Hurling Champion, was ordained to the Catholic Priesthood, for the Diocese of Sacramento, California. On June 6, 1986, a 26 year old, native of Indiana, who had attended high school, college, and seminary, in California, - was ordained a Priest of Jesus Christ, for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, in the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul.  Today they celebrate  25 years and 63 years of pastoral and priestly ministry.  These two presbyters, are not only my dedicated colleagues, but my beloved friends, and brother priests, the Right Reverend Monsignor Edward J. Kavanagh, in the Diocese of Sacramento, and Reverend Father Daniel Barrett Donohoo, in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, in the United States of America.  Fervently and Faithfully, for a quarter of a century to the Church of Indianapolis, and more than half the total history of the Diocese of Sacramento, these two outstanding priests have productively and selflessly served God's People.  Msgr. Kavanagh, my mentor, colleague, friend, and second father, at age 86, is ministering to the sixth generation of families he has shared his priesthood with in St. Rose's Parish / St. Patrick's Home and School, on Franklin Boulevard in South Sacramento.  Thank you, Ed, "Ned", "Bus", "Uncle Father Eddie", for your example and service all these decades.  Father Donohoo, I met twenty seven years ago, when we were both third year transfers into St. Patrick's Seminary, in Menlo Park, California.  Dan spent his first two years of seminary formation in Louvain, Beligium; at the same time I was in Kilkenny, Ireland.  Dan completed his college education at San Diego State University, while I was at Sacramento State University.  For the past twenty five years Fr. Dan, has served in parishes and multiple ministries, in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.  For more than a decade now Fr. Dan, has continued to carry out his priestly ministry, despite enduring serious illness and diseases.  Even as he is celebrating his Silver Jubilee today, he is facing further health challenges.  Yet, he continues to go forward in fidelity, fellowship, and friendship, with the People of God, he was ordained to serve.  Throughout my travails during the past decade, he has remained an anchor of support and solidarity for me, despite dealing with his own hardships.  As these two exemplary priests celebrate their Ordination to Priesthood Anniversaries today, may many others discern from their example, God's Call to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ in their own lives...........Ad Multos Annos, Dan and Ed; Kudos Good Priests,  Fratenally in Jesus The Lord,   Troy