Archdiocese honors retired priests

November 5, 2015

Msgr. Jose A. Rodriguez struck a grace note of humor and appreciation for the retired priests of the Archdiocese of San Francisco as the keynote speaker at The Fifth Annual St. John Vianney Luncheon Oct. 30.

“Sooner or later every priest will die, but none will ever retire,” Msgr. Rodriguez told the more than 500 gathered for lunch at St. Mary’s Cathedral’s Patrons’ Hall. “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

And, said Msgr. Rodriguez, himself retired and in his “wisdom years,” as he put it: retired priests “are priests who have stepped aside for less experienced priests.”

“You are witnesses of the Good Shepherd’s love for his flock. We could not do without you,” said Msgr. Rodriquez.

The annual luncheon honors retired priests while attendees and donors contribute to the priests’retirement fund. This year’s luncheon netted $216,000 for the fund, said Florian Romero, development coordinator for the archdiocese and primary organizer of the luncheon.

This year’s honorary chairperson and major sponsor was Fred Furth. Dignity Health was the corporate sponsor. There were more than 530 individual donors, said Basilian Father Anthony Giampietro, interim development director for the archdiocese.

To contribute to the Priests Retirement Fund, Archdiocese of San Francisco, One Peter Yorke Way, SF 94109