Silver jubilees to be celebrated

Four priests are celebrating the silver jubilees of their ordination this year, and one of them said that he is living a dream that began when he was six:

* Rev. Geoffrey Burke, pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption parish and chaplain at St. Joseph's Provincial House, both in Latham, is a native of Cohoes. He has been an associate pastor at St. Mary's, Oneonta, and St. Thomas, Delmar. During the 1990s, he served as director of Priests' Personnel, and as chancellor for Personnel and Public Information.

He plans to mark his anniversary with a parish Mass and reception on August 1 at 11 a.m.

* Rev. Richard Carlino, a native of Troy, is pastor of St. John the Evangelist, St. Mary and Holy Cross parishes in Schenectady. Since his ordination in 1979, he has served at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Albany; St. Edward's, Clifton Park; St. Anthony's, Schenectady; Our Lady of the Assumption, Rotterdam; Nativity/St. Mary's, Stuyvesant Falls; and Holy Family, Stottville. He has also been a chaplain at St. Mary's/Samaritan hospitals in Troy and Albany Medical Center.

Father Carlino told The Evangelist that "my years of priesthood have been profoundly enriched by the indescribably wonderful experiences of meeting so many persons who have been open to the grace of God, and receptive to me and my ministry."

Speaking about the rewards of being a priest, he noted: "Since I have wanted to be a priest since I was six years old, I would never pass up an opportunity to recommend the ordained ministry to other men. I believe it is unlikely that there is a more fulfilling and satisfying life to be found anywhere on earth."

Father Carlino will celebrate his 25th anniversary with a Mass of Thanksgiving, June 9, 6:30 p.m., at St. John the Evangelist Church. A reception will follow.

* Rev. Stephen Morris, a native of New York City, was ordained for the downstate Diocese of Rockville Centre, but he has served in the Albany Diocese since the mid-1990s as pastor and now sacramental minister at St. Paul's parish in Hancock, and as chaplain at the Family Foundation School.

Father Morris, who was ordained in October 1979, has yet to set his anniversary plans.

* Rev. Kofi Ntsiful-Amissah, a native of Ghana, came to the Albany Diocese in 1983. He has served at St. Margaret Mary's and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, both in Albany, before being named director of the Black Apostolate.

While carrying on those duties, he was also a member of the presbyteral team ministering to the Albany Center City Cluster and administrator of St. George's Church. He also has been chaplain at Tryon School in Johnstown and sacramental minister at Sacred Heart parish in Albany.

He is now pastor of St. Joan of Arc parish in Menands and Sacred Heart of Jesus parish in Albany.

He has not announced plans for an anniversary celebration.

(5/13/04) [[In-content Ad]]