In the year of the priesthood, as proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI, Worldwide Marriage Encounter sponsored World Priest Day Sunday Oct. 25, which also coincided with the Sierra Club’s Priesthood last Sunday.
World Priest Day focused on celebrating the ongoing affirmation of priests and building of relationships between couples and priests. The mission and purpose of World Priest Day was to celebrate and affirm the men who commit their lives to the Lord and the Church via the Sacrament of Holy Orders. It is an opportunity for Catholic parishioners to thank, affirm and share their love and support for priests.
This day was an opportunity for the Catholic community of Baldwinsville to celebrate the new Pastor – Rev. Esper.
Father Esper received his bachelor’s degree from the Holy Apostles Seminar and continued his studies in theology/seminary at Christ the King at St. Bonaventure. Father Esper was ordained June 8, 1985. He worked as an associate pastor at St. Catherine of Siena in Binghamton for five years.
Father Esper’s pastoral ministry began in 1990 with his assignment as Pastor for Our Lady of Lourdes in Utica. After that, he served as pastor for St. Stephens in Oriskany and then at St. Paul’s and St. Anne’s in Whitesboro. After several happy years in that community, Father Abe was assigned to minister to the needs of St. Mary’s and St. Augustine’s parishioners in Baldwinsville. Parishioners at St. Mary's and St. Augustine’s are very happy to have Father Abe and have welcomed him into the community and have celebrated his priesthood.
