Florida Catholic | St. Sebastian Parish Celebrates Their Heroes

St. Sebastian Parish celebrates their heroes

In thanksgiving, the parish holds their first “Clergy and Religious Appreciation” celebration.

LINDA REEVES | FLORIDA CATHOLIC PALM BEACH BUREAU EDITOR

Published: 05.09.08

JASON COLLINS | FC
Father John Morrissey, pastor of St.Sebastian Parish receives a hug from Jay Baker.

SEBASTIAN | Steven Guess walked away from his first formation class at the seminary six years ago affected by the words of the professor.

“I will never forget my very first day in class to become a deacon,” he told the Florida Catholic. “The teacher said, ‘Each and every one of you will bring something to the parish that you serve – something that was not there (before you came).’”

Deacon Guess, who has actively participated at St. Sebastian since 1991 and has served there as a permanent deacon since his ordination Sept. 9, 2006, was thanked for all he has brought and continues to bring to his faith community during the parish’s first “Clergy and Religious Appreciation” event April 26.

“It is really a nice thing that they are doing,” said Deacon Guess about the Mass and reception to honor the parish’s clergy and religious.

In a biographical sketch specially written for the event and posted on the parish Web site,” Deacon Guess wrote, “I have dedicated my life to serving the people of St. Sebastian Parish and feel that when I serve you I am serving Christ.”

During festivities, parishioners honored, celebrated and appreciated St. Sebastian’s pastor, two deacons, parochial vicar, two retired priests who help there, and two nuns.

“It is something we have never done,” said Dick Van Mele, a parishioner since 1999 and event committee member and organizer.

“The parish has almost doubled in size since 1999 when Father John Morrissey came here,” he said about his pastor. We have nearly 2,200 families. The number of children in religious education jumped from 146 children to 460 now. It is Father John. He is consoling and outgoing. He has brought people in from other parishes. We want to thank him and the religious for all they do for us. We don’t thank them enough.”

Father Morrissey felt uncomfortable being the center of attention, and spoke to the Florida Catholic before the event.

“Well, I am going along with it,” he said. “It is important to support those who serve our parish and this is a nice way for the parishioners to show appreciation.”

An afternoon Mass was part of the appreciation event. A video was presented featuring the clergy and religious performing service and interacting with parishioners. A reception closed the celebrations.

“The idea is to let them know how much they are appreciated,” said Donna Palazzo, who helped promote the event.

“They do a lot. The two sisters who are retired do outreach. They are so involved, and their hearts are so in the right place. We have a priest from Africa (parochial vicar Father Protas Swai). He came last Easter and he jumped into parish work.”

Parish Heros

These religious sisters, deacons and priests serve St. Sebastian Parish.

• Sisters Delores Lucas and Sheila Salmon, Sisters of the Humility of Mary

• Deacons Steven Guess, Richard Voegele and Henk Toussaint

• Fathers John Morrissey (pastor), Protas Swai (parochial vicar), Ed Roberts (retired) and Marjan Bober (retired)

As a token of appreciation, all received a booklet featuring those who were celebrated.

“I thought they would like a booklet to remind them of the whole thing,” said Bob Haefner, a committee member who organized the books, which include an article on the priesthood, sisterhood and diaconate formation program. “We would like to consider doing this every year.”

Committee member Paul Kostenbauder spoke to the Florida Catholic before the parish event.

“It is the fact that the parish is showing appreciation to a great team of religious,” he said. “I think it is great. We tend so often to take our priests and religious for granted. It is time to appreciate those we have.”

Many priests and religious are not comfortable when it comes to calling attention to themselves and being placed in the spotlight. However events like the one at St. Sebastian highlight the priesthood and religious life, and according to the diocese’s director of vocations, may influence a young man thinking about the priesthood.

“It is a good thing to show appreciation to the religious leaders,” said Father Yves François. “We want to honor those who are called to lead the people to God. It is good. We need priests, but we need good priests, shepherds that lead by example.”

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