The Blessing of Forever*

In 2017, while serving as parish priest, a touching moment unfolded that would forever stay in my heart. Just before the 7:30 AM Mass, another priest introduced me to a couple celebrating their Golden Wedding anniversary. They had attended the earlier 7:00 AM Mass and had humbly requested a simple blessing afterward. However, I felt moved to offer something more meaningful and asked if they could stay for the next Mass, where I could bless them within the celebration itself.

What happened next was deeply emotional. As they renewed their vows at the very church where they were married 50 years ago, both husband and wife were teary-eyed, filled with joy and gratitude. They later approached me and expressed words that left an indelible mark: "We cannot express our gratitude and joy. We will forever remember this until our dying days." Their words touched me profoundly, knowing that in this sacred moment, we had become instruments of God’s grace. It was an unplanned, unscheduled blessing for all of us—a beautiful testament to how God works through the simplest acts of service to show His love.

I, too, was filled with gratitude. In that moment, I realized once again the privilege of ministry: being able to serve as a channel of God’s love and compassion. It wasn’t something either the couple or I expected, but it became a profound and memorable encounter. Thank you, Lord, for using us as vessels of Your love.

An unexpected event on the Solemnity of St. Thomas Aquinas!