The earliest recollection I have of even thinking about the priesthood came to me at the age of 12. It was a Sunday morning and as usual I was at Mass with my family at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in New Bedford.
The pastor, Msgr. Vieira, who was in his 90s, was celebrating the Mass. I remember his walking up the steps of the sanctuary to the altar aided by two other priests. My first thought was, “How amazing it is that at his age he still wants to say Mass. There must be something to being a priest that inspires this man.”
Msgr. Antonio P. Vieira would enjoy 75 years of priesthood and was called to the house of the Father on March 27, 1964 at the age of 98. The image of him at the altar always stuck with me. It was a thought that would not go away.
I entered the seminary in 1968 right out of high school. It was my first experience being away from home and family. After four years at St. John’s Seminary College in Boston, I was advised to take a year off and re-evaluate my vocation. I did so and lived at home with my parents. I got a job and involved myself in the life of the parish. I volunteered to teach CCD (as it was called then) and now have a deep appreciation for all catechists who volunteer their time to teach the children of the parish in the ways of the Catholic faith.
The thought of being a priest, however, remained with me. I am particularly grateful to Msgr. John Smith, who was the Vocations director at the time, and Father Daniel Freitas, a family friend, both of whom lent me their support in my resolve to become a priest at that time.
When I re-entered the seminary at St. Mary’s in Baltimore, I found myself questioning if God was truly calling me to this vocation. I wondered if I was worthy. It didn’t take long for the Lord to speak to my heart.
At daily Mass one day the words of Jesus in John 15:16 hit me like a ton of bricks. “It was not you who chose me; it was I who chose you.” I discovered that my vocation was not “my” vocation; it was the Lord’s and he was inviting me to accept his call. I felt a profound sense of humility and placed my life in the Lord’s hands at that time.
When I completed my studies at St. Mary’s I returned to the Fall River Diocese and was ordained by Bishop Daniel A. Cronin on October 22, 1977. My first assignment as a priest was at St. James Parish in New Bedford. I was happy to begin my priesthood in my “backyard” as it were, since St. James was not far from Mt. Carmel where I grew up. I was fortunate to have Father Armando Annunziato as my first pastor. He was patient with me. I will always remember his kindness and generosity.
Over the past 31 years I have had the privilege of serving God’s people in every part of the diocese — New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton, Provincetown and Attleboro. In that time the Lord has truly blessed me with wonderful, faith-filled people who have assisted me in my ministry. I consider my priesthood intimately linked with the lives of my parishioners. I can only hope and pray that the Lord has touched the hearts of these people through my ministry to them.
As I write this article I am preparing to begin a new phase of my priestly life serving the people of the Catholic Memorial Home in Fall River as their chaplain. After three decades in a parish ministry, this will be a new challenge. Once again I will be relying on God’s grace and the faith of his people to support me in this ministry.
Reflecting on the gift of the priesthood, I think back to an encounter with a priest friend some 30 years ago. At that time we were both new to the ministry and he exclaimed, “I love being a priest.” This sudden outburst was unexpected but understandable. It didn’t take me long to agree with him and I am happy to say that today I feel the same way, “I love being a priest.”
Father Raposo is Chaplain at Catholic Memorial Home in Fall River.