“Congratulations to our two bishop jubilarians, Bishop Martin Amos and Bishop Roger Gries, and to all our priest jubilarians,” Bishop Edward Malesic said during the annual diocesan priest jubilee celebration. He noted each priest has his own vocation story, but they have one thing in common: “Each of us had an encounter with Jesus Christ.”
The event recognized the 70th, 60th, 50th, 40th and 25th ordination anniversaries of priests throughout the diocese as well as the 25th episcopal ordination anniversary of Bishop Amos and Bishop Gries. St. Basil the Great Parish in Brecksville hosted the May 19 celebration.
(See photo gallery above.)
Father Mark Ott, director of the propaedeutic stage at Saint Mary Seminary, was chosen as the homilist for the Mass. He is celebrating the 25th anniversary of his priestly ordination.
“I am honored, humbled and shocked to be asked to preach here today,” Father Ott said. He noted it was the exact anniversary of his ordination on May 19, 2001.
Usually, the jubilee homilist is someone who has spent many years in priestly ministry. “I looked at where I am in my priesthood and it’s right in the middle … I’m pretty sure I’m the first post-Vatican II ‘baby’ to preach at this celebration,” Father Ott said, explaining his homily would reflect on his priestly journey so far.
He recalled growing up across the street from his parish church, St. Francis de Sales in Akron, where he received the sacraments of initiation and was an altar server. “The parish was an extension of my home … It was a safe, beautiful way to grow up in the changing Church.”
Father Ott got emotional a few times while reflecting on his childhood, youth and discerning his vocation. He attended Franciscan University in Steubenville, where he considered mechanical engineering as a career. “But I couldn’t ignore the tug (a priestly vocation),” he said. After graduation, he enrolled at the diocesan seminary.
“They formed me for priesthood in my beloved home,” Father Ott said.
After ordination on May 19, 2001, he spent five years as parochial vicar at St. Mary of the Falls Parish in Olmsted Falls before being sent to study Scripture and later to teach at the seminary. He now directs seminarians in the propaedeutic stage, a year that lays a foundation for a new way of life through prayer, study and fraternity. “It’s like a seminary preschool,” he quipped, noting he’s sometimes called “propadad.”
His goal is to help his students encounter the living God, preach well and to be able to have an intelligent conversation about Scripture.
Father Ott described the first half of his priesthood as vulnerable and joyful. He’s encountered people and his brother priests at different times in their lives and has been able to embrace them and Jesus, the divine physician, who brings joy and healing to the Church.
Many priests, family members and friends attended the Mass and lunch reception.