November 7, 2009

Msgr. Gibbons honored by fellow priests

JANET SHELTON | FLORIDA CATHOLIC ST. PETERSBURG BUREAU EDITOR

Published: 10.21.08

TAMPA | Msgr. Robert Gibbons’ year of trials and blessings scored another point in the blessings category when his fellow priests voted him the 2008 winner of the diocese’s prestigious Father Luis de Cancer award for “distinguished priestly service.”

The longtime pastor of St. Paul Parish in St. Petersburg, who underwent cancer treatment over the summer, received the award from Bishop Robert N. Lynch Oct. 7 in Tampa during the bishop’s annual Convocation for Priestly Renewal. Diocesan priests determine the winner of the award, named after a Spanish Dominican priest martyred in the Tampa Bay area in 1549.

Msgr. Gibbons, who has served as diocesan chancellor and vicar general and on the faculty of St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, said he was humbled his fellow priests would consider him for the award.

“I have tremendous respect and admiration for all the former recipients of the award,” Msgr. Gibbons said. “To be numbered among them is tremendous. I’m very, very humbled, but also thrilled.”

Msgr. Gibbons received a long, standing ovation from the priests when Bishop Lynch announced the recognition during a banquet at the Crowne Plaza, Sable Park. It was the second major honor for Father Gibbons this year. In August, at the request of Bishop Lynch, Pope Benedict XVI granted him the title of monsignor.

The St. Paul Parish celebration began the next day.

“I was elated to hear the news,” said Sister Joan Carberry, the school’s assistant principal. “I feel Father Gibbons … is very deserving of this recognition from his fellow priests. Father’s commitment and dedication to the priesthood and to his vocation as a priest has been an inspiration to me in the 12-plus years that I’ve known (him).”

In a conversation at times paused by emotion, the Franciscan sister talked about Msgr. Gibbons, what he means to the people of St. Paul and what it was like for his parish family to watch him suffer through a cancer diagnosis and treatment.

“We were all just devastated,” she said. “During Father’s short time away from the parish, during the surgery and when he was home recuperating, his presence was so missed. … We felt like sheep without a shepherd.”

The illness showed the connection the St. Paul community shares with its pastor. In addition to their prayers, parishioners volunteered to drive Msgr. Gibbons to chemotherapy sessions. The parish office was so overwhelmed with inquiries about the priest’s health that he began posting on the parish Web site his reflections and health updates.

“He was very open in sharing his feelings about his cancer and his ups and downs related to it. He never minimized what was happening, yet he never looked for sympathy.”

Msgr. Gibbons’ cancer is in remission. Sister Carberry said seeing how he dealt with the pain and uncertainty during those long summer months gave inspiration and strength to many.

“Father accepted and trusted that he was in the Lord’s hands and that the Lord would take care of him,” she said. “He said he would never have written the script this way, but he believed the Lord had his reasons and that the Lord would take care of him.”

“He could be so sick … but he never gave up.”

 

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