On Saturday, May 22, the Priory of St. Thomas Aquinas at Providence College celebrated three anniversaries of long-serving Dominican priests. Fr. Alan Morris, O.P., ordained a priest in 1950, celebrated 60 years as a priest, while Frs. David Folsey, O.P., and Damien Myett, O.P., ordained together in 1960, both celebrated 50 years of priesthood. In this Year of the Priest, what a joy it is to have these three Friars as models of priestly fidelity!

Fr. Folsey's elegant homily is below:

In this morning’s Gospel, we read that “the disciple whom Jesus loved followed him.” Now we know that this was the Beloved Disciple who was an intimate friend of Jesus, and rested on Jesus’ chest in John’s depiction of the Last Supper. But as scholars have suggested, the “Beloved Disciple” is also the Johannine symbol for the Christian. Didn’t Jesus pray to His Father that His followers may enjoy such an intimate friendship? “I have called you friends, not servants.” “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love.” “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain.” “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you....Receive the Holy Spirit.”

We who celebrate this morning are conscious of this Divine calling to friendship with the Lord. This is a calling that is not only graced by the fraternal affection of Christ for each of us, but also by the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit of love in our lives. For it is this great love that binds the Father and the Son who unites us to God and to one another. It is a love that transcends words and laws and sentiments, and touches our hearts and spirits. It is a love that gives voice to the things we really believe in - the holy preaching of God’s saving love in Jesus Christ. It is a love that has inspired us to take on the work of building God’s Kingdom on earth despite our own fears and doubts.

And so we are here as disciples whom Jesus loves. We are his friends, despite our unworthiness and failures. This thought and this great gift is what keeps us going. This is what we celebrate today with praise and thanksgiving.

In our mission of preaching, we are confident, too, of the maternal, caring help of Mary, the Vester of our Order. With filial love, we trust in the faithful prayers of St. Dominic, who has assisted us on our journey.

Please pray with us that we may always respond fully to God’s Spirit within us, and serve the Lord with holy and ever-renewed hearts.