ARTICLES

Diocesan priests celebrate 40th and 25th anniversary of ordination

Three priests of the Diocese of Richmond recently celebrated their 40th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood. Four recently celebrated their 25th anniversary.

40th Anniversary Celebrants

Father Peter Creed, pastor of St. Olaf parish in Norge and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish in New Kent County, was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Syracuse, NY, on May 20, 1967. He was incardinated into the Richmond diocese March 17, 2003 and assigned to ministry at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.

Father Creed served as pastor of St. Mary Star of the Sea, Fort Monroe, for three years until June 2006. He also was canonical pastor of St. Vincent de Paul parish in Newport News.

Father Gerald A. Przywara, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi parish in Staunton, was ordained a priest May 27, 1967 for the Vincentian Fathers and incardinated into the Richmond diocese on May 27, 1972. He was first assigned in the diocese at Immaculate Conception parish in Hampton as associate pastor.

Other parishes in which Father Przywara served are St. Bede’s, Williamsburg (1972–1975) as parochial vicar; campus minister at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg (1975–1982); St. Luke, Virginia Beach (1986–1991) as pastor; and Ss. Peter and Paul, Palmyra, and St. Joseph’s Shrine of St. Katharine Drexel, Columbia (1993–2005), as pastor at both.

In addition, Father Przywara did missionary work in British Columbia from 1982 to 1986, and served as administrator of St. William parish in Gallup, NM in 1991.

Father John Ridgell, who retired from active priestly ministry for health reasons in June 2006 as pastor of St. Olaf parish in Norge, was ordained a priest May 13, 1967. His first assignment was at Our Lady of Nazareth, Roanoke, where he served from 1967 to 1969.

Other priestly ministry assignments he had included being coordinator of Roanoke Catholic High School (1969–1971); Our Lady of Lourdes, Richmond (1971–1974); St. Mary’s, Richmond, where he served as pastor from 1974 to 1979, and St. Therese, Gloucester, where he served as pastor from 1987 to 1999.

In addition Father Ridgell was chaplain at St. Joseph’s Villa, Richmond, coordinator of Family Life Ministry and was associated with the Diocesan Tribunal.

He now lives in retirement in Norge and presides at Mass three of the four Sundays each month at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Quinton, assisting Father Peter Creed who is also pastor of St. Olaf’s in Norge.

25th Anniversary Celebrants 

Father James J. Begley, pastor of Church of the Redeemer in Mechanicsville, was ordained a priest May 8, 1982. His first assignment was at Holy Family, Virginia Beach, where he served as parochial vicar for one year until he was assigned to St. Andrew’s in Roanoke as parochial vicar from 1983 to 1986.

Father Begley graduated from St. Mary’s School, Richmond, in 1970, and then from St. John Vianney Seminary, Richmond, in 1974.

He served at Epiphany, Richmond (1986–1988), and at Holy Name of Mary, Bedford, as pastor (1988–1997) before being appointed pastor of Redeemer in 1997. He is also currently canonical pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes, Richmond.

Father James C. Griffin, pastor of St. Mark parish in Virginia Beach, was ordained May 8, 1982. His first assignment was at Cathedral of the Sacred Heart where he served as parochial vicar for two years until 1984 when he was assigned to St. Mary’s, Richmond, as parochial vicar.

Father Griffin has served as pastor of Good Shepherd, South Hill, and St. Catherine of Siena, Clarksville, from 1985 to 1987, and then served as pastor of St. Vincent de Paul, Newport News, from 1987 to 1992. He later served as pastor of St. Therese, Chesapeake, from 1992 to 1998; campus minister at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, from 1998 to 2002, when he was appointed pastor of St. Mark’s.

Father Stephen Hickman, who retired from priestly ministry in June 2006 due to health, was at the time pastor of St. John parish in Waynesboro, a position he had for three years.

After being ordained a priest May 8, 1982, he was named parochial vicar at Immaculate Conception in Hampton. Other parishes in which he served are St. Joseph’s Shrine of St. Katharine Drexel, Columbia, as pastor (1985–1987) and St. Elizabeth’s, Richmond.

During his 25 years as a priest Father Hickman has served with the Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL, and was a Navy chaplain from 1989 to 2002.

He is currently living in New Mexico.

Father Robert M. Spencer, currently pastor of St. Joseph’s, Petersburg, was ordained a priest May 8, 1982. His first assignment was at St. Edward’s, Richmond, where he served as associate pastor for three years.

Other parishes in which Father Spencer served are St. Paul’s, Richmond; Ascension, Virginia Beach; St. Theresa’s, Farmville, (1990–1995); and Our Lady of Peace, Appomattox, and Nativity, Buckingham (1987–1990). He is canonical pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Blackstone; St. John the Baptist, Crewe, and Sacred Heart, Meherrin.

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