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Msgr. Floro Arcamo and Bishop William Justice at the St. John Vianney luncheon at St. Mary's Cathedral Oct. 11. With Msgr. John Rodriguez, they were specially honored at the luncheon for their service to the church. (Photo by Dennis Callahan/Catholic San Francisco)
Oct. 18, 2019
Nicholas Wolfram Smith
Nearly 500 people gathered for the 9th annual St. John Vianney priests’ retirement luncheon at St. Mary’s Cathedral Oct. 11, a sign of gratitude and support for the men who spent their lives serving the church.
Father Michael Quinn, the event's emcee and pastor of Star of the Sea in Sausalito, told the crowd, “By your support here today, you really do take care of the people who serve you. It’s a privilege to serve you, so thank you for returning the compliment.”
Father Quinn added that priests “all do what we do because we have such wonderful people of God. One of the questions I’ve enjoyed in my life is what is the worst parish in San Francisco. There’s not a single bad parish: the people are wonderful in every parish.”
The luncheon also helps build up the local church, he said. “When we spend time to meet each other we make ourselves a stronger community.”
Rod Linhares, the archdiocesan development director, told Catholic San Francisco the luncheon "was a wonderful celebration of our retired priests and their commitment to parishioners throughout our Archdiocese. It gave everyone the chance to come together, renew old friendships, and make new ones."
Linhares called the money raised is "critical" because it goes to pay for the health and living expenses of retired priests.
"It is our turn to care for them as they have cared for us," he said. Since it started in 2011, the luncheon has raised more than $2.25 million.
Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone thanked the luncheon’s sponsors and volunteers and light-heartedly quipped that the gathering reminded him of the saying that “old priests never die, they just lose their faculties.”
The archbishop praised the priests who, he said, have seen good and bad times in the church and “have remained faithful to their vocation through their ups and downs over the course of history.”
The luncheon’s special honorees this year were Bishop William J. Justice, Msgr. Floro Arcamo and Msgr. John Rodriguez. Bishop Justice this year celebrated 51 years as a priest, Msgr. Arcamo 54 years and Msgr. Rodriquez 60 years.
The luncheon also had an interview with a retired priest, Father Anthony McGuire, a resident of Serra Clergy House. Father McGuire said being a pastor is “a great gift” and cherished the “opportunity to speak the word of God.”
The priest said it took time to accustom himself to retirement. As a pastor, he said, his life had been run by “the alarm clock, the bell at church, the schedule and the phone.” After retiring, those no longer ran his day.
“It takes a while to go nonstop to third gear to first gear,” he said.
In response to being asked how retirement fundraising benefits him, Father McGuire deadpanned “the big thing is drugs. Retired priests are hooked on drugs, but they’re all prescription drugs.” Turning more serious, he said the procedures and medications required for priests’ care are not always covered by insurance and thanked the crowd for their support.
Father McGuire also spoke about the importance of Serra Clergy House in his retirement. The community there has been enjoyable, he said, and constantly reminds him of St. Francis statement that “I prayed for holiness and God gave me brothers.”
The luncheon also remembered priests who died during the year: Cardinal William J. Levada, Bishop Robert F. Christian, Monsignor John Pernia, Father Richard Deitch, Father James Morris, Jesuit Father Steve Pisano and Franciscan Brother George Cherrie.
John Christian, Bishop Christian’s brother, gave a tribute to his brother’s life and accomplishments and said that while the bishop's sudden death was a “blow to the family” it was a “deeper loss for the archdiocese and the seminary.”
The luncheon closed with Marian hymns sung by seminarians from St. Patrick's Seminary & University and a blessing from Bishop Justice.