To the editor:
On the weekend of May 15, in our clustered parishes of St. Mary in Bath and St. Gabriel in Hammondsport, we celebrated my silver anniversary and Vocation Sunday.
I would like to thank publicly our Good Shepherd for sharing such a call and satisfaction of a meaningful ministry with me. I would also like to thank Bishop Clark for his faithful support. Without it, I wouldn’t be celebrating 25 years in our Diocese.
I am happy to have had such good support, love, and prayers from both my parents in my vocation. I am grateful to those involved in educating me at St. Mary School in Canandaigua and Seton Hall University. Thanks also to all staff who worked with me through the years on my parish assignments.
Lastly, I am a joyful priest who is ever grateful to the flock I have served in Rochester. You have been a gift. Thanks to all who honored me on May 15 from areas such as Bath, Hammondsport, Hornell, Palmyra, Marion and Canandaigua. The celebration was a surprise and a feast for all.
Thank you especially for your contribution toward my trip to Portugal and Spain. An item on my bucket list wish was one day to get to the tomb of my patron saint, St. James the Apostle in Compostela. What a 25th gift! You will all be remembered in my prayers of thanksgiving at the shrines in Fatima, Compostela, and Avila
Psalm 23 is true for me personally since only the Lord’s goodness and kindness have followed me all the days of my life. I pray that more may respond to the Lord’s call and be as happy and fulfilled as I am.
Rev. James P. Jaeger
Bath
