BELMONT — Benedictine Father David Kessinger is marking six decades of priestly ministry this year.
A lifelong Catholic from Clifton Forge, Va., he first thought he might want to be a priest when he was training to be an altar server in the fifth grade.
He attended junior and senior college at Belmont Abbey. During his senior year there, he realized he had a call to the religious life. Upon his graduation from Belmont Abbey College in 1953, he entered the Benedictine monastery of Belmont Abbey.
After the novitiate he completed four years of major seminary studies before being ordained in the Abbey basilica by Bishop Vincent Waters on May 31, 1958.
Over the years, Father Kessinger has served at Belmont Abbey College, the Benedictine Military School in Richmond, Va., and a Benedictine high school in Savannah, Ga. He also served as the librarian of Belmont Abbey College for years.
When asked about what he has enjoyed most about his priestly ministry, Father Kessinger responds, “Having the joy of God’s gift of vocation and priesthood in ministering to the people of God, especially offering Mass and hearing confessions, and ministry to the sick and elderly.”
The most significant lessons he has learned over the past 60 years of religious life?
“God’s love for us all,” he replies, and adds, “The witness of the people of God. Learn from mistakes – go forward from there. God has many surprises! Take one day at a time.”
He has also witnessed “God’s loving mercy and the good example of the people of God.”
Father Kessinger has a great love of music, reading the Scriptures and spiritual reading. These things were shared with him by his parents, relatives and friends over the years.
His advice to those discerning a call to the priesthood or religious life?
“(Spend time in) daily prayer, asking the Holy Spirit for the grace of discernment of God’s call; daily participation in Mass and Holy Communion; faithful, daily reading of Scriptures; regular Eucharistic Adoration and praying of the rosary,” he suggests.
And, he urges, people should “pray daily for abundant and faithful vocations.”
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
CHARLOTTE — Priests from the Diocese of Charlotte are gathering this week for two days of continuing education.
“One of the goals for us is to refresh and enhance our knowledge of the faith and our pastoral ministry skills,” said Father Patrick Hoare, pastor of St. Matthew Church in Charlotte, who helps to organize the yearly event.
The speaker for this year’s annual colloquium, held June 21 and 22, is Father Robert Pesarchick, vice president for academic affairs and professor of systematic theology at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. Father Pesarchick earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees and a Master of Divinity from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary as well as his licentiate in sacred theology and doctorate in sacred theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He is speaking on the Catholic theology of holy orders.
“We will be able to reflect on the nature of the priesthood and who the priest is called to be in God’s plan in the Church,” Father Hoare said.
The colloquium topic is especially appropriate this year, as the priests also gathered with Bishop Peter Jugis for Mass on June 21 to honor those priests who are celebrating jubilee anniversaries in 2018 and the two priests of the diocese who are retiring this year: Father Wilbur Thomas, pastor of St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville, and Father Carl Del Giudice, pastor of Our Lady of Consolation Church in Charlotte. Bishop Jugis offered Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte for the jubilarians and the retirees.
“We honor those celebrating their dedication and faithfulness to their call for orders,” Father Hoare said.
These continuing education colloquiums allow pastors to grow in their faith and skills, and they also provide time for fellowship. The program is funded by the seminarian and priests’ continuing education collection that is taken up each year at Easter.
“We’re scattered across 46 counties in western North Carolina and we don’t spend a lot of time as priests together – depending on where we’re stationed,” Father Hoare said. “These meetings allow us to spend time together and catch up.”
— Kimberly Bender, Online reporter