Annual luncheon thanks ‘invaluable’ retired priests

Four retired priests were recognized as Milestone Honorees and given a Papal Blessing by Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone at the eighth annual St. John Vianney Luncheon on October 26 at St. Mary’s Cathedral. The annual luncheon honors retired priests and helps fund their retirement. Pictured is Father Guillermo Rodriguez, who celebrated the 62nd anniversary of his ordination. The other three milestone honorees were Father Wilton Smith, a priest for 60 years; Father Joseph Richard, a priest for 60 years; and Father Kevin White, a priest for 57 years. (Photos by Dennis Callahan)
 
November 1, 2018
Nicholas Wolfram Smith
 
The hall underneath St. Mary’s Cathedral buzzed with chatter as more than 500 people gathered for a luncheon to celebrate the archdiocese’s retired priests. The eighth annual St. John Vianney Luncheon on Oct.26 honored the more than 70 retired priests who have served in the archdiocese, and supported the Priests Retirement Fund. Since it began in 2011, the event has raised more than $1.7 million.
 
In his introductory remarks, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone thanked everyone in attendance for their support for retired priests. He said that though the church was going through a difficult time, there is “an awful lot of good to celebrate.” The archbishop spoke about the importance to the archdiocese of retired priests, who continue to remain active in the archdiocese.
 
 
Father Michael Liliedahl, parochial vicar of St. Cecilia Parish, San Francisco, emceed the luncheon. In his opening remarks Father Liliedahl, ordained in 2017, joked that the “priest furthest away from retirement” was tapped to host the event.
 

“The word retirement does not exist in canon law,” Archbishop Cordileone said, and added it was “a sign of their love” for retired priests to continue their ministry in the church. Among many other services, retired priests assist at parishes with saying Mass, hearing confessions and offering spiritual direction.
 
In a letter in the luncheon program, Archbishop Cordileone wrote that without retired priests, “we simply would not have the spiritual blessings we need to grow closer in communion with God and one another.”
 

Father P. Gerard O’Rourke, ordained in 1950 and retired director of the Office of Interreligious Affairs for the archdiocese, at the luncheon. At 93, he is the oldest priest of the Archdiocese of San Francisco.


During the lunch, four priests were singled out as Milestone Honorees: Fathers Joseph Richard, Guillermo Rodriguez, Wilton Smith and Kevin White each received papal blessings from Archbishop Cordileone.
 
Father Michael Liliedahl, parochial vicar of St. Cecilia in San Francisco, was the luncheon’s emcee. Father Liliedahl, who was ordained in 2017, joked that the organizers had chosen “the priest furthest away from retirement” to host the event.
 
“It’s a chance not only to honor and thank our retired priests, but to come together and enjoy the fellowship of priests that we often don’t get to see,” he said.
 
This year’s program also paid tribute to Monsignor James Tarantino, who died in April and was instrumental in founding the retirement luncheon. Monsignor Tarantino’s sister, Mary Tarantino Beigel, spoke about event’s importance to her brother. Monsignor Tarantino, she said, always wanted the retirement luncheon to be an opportunity for priests and laity to celebrate together as a family.
 
“Remember that the priests who are always there for us are our family,” she said.
 
Father Liliedahl told Catholic San Francisco that retired priests were “invaluable.” Along with all of the important work they do in parishes, he said their example had helped him discern his own vocation to the priesthood. Father Liliedahl said retired priests have also been an important source of advice in carrying out his own ministry.
 
“As a newly ordained priest, you come in with a lot of energy and drive, and they really provide a rudder,” he said.
 
 
The Fil-Am Singing Priests of the Archdiocese of San Francisco entertained at the luncheon, singing tunes like “Hallelujah” and “Because of You.”