Retirement

Christmas Day will be especially poignant for Father William A. Au, pastor of the Shrine of the Sacred Heart. 

Father Demek was inspired to become a priest by a seminarian from his home parish, Holy Cross in South Baltimore. “My father ran the altar servers when I was a kid back in the ’50s and so I was an altar server from second grade on.” He was an altar server at the seminarian’s first Mass after ordination.

For the last 12 years, Father William “Bill” Foley has served the 80 or so retired priests in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, which also included helping those priests who are about to retire adjust to the changes they can expect. Now, that group includes Father Foley himself as he will retire effective July 1 as the Director of Senior and Retired Priests.

Father Franken, 75, who will retire as pastor of St. Joan of Arc in Aberdeen effective July 1, enjoyed his work with young people, but the call to the diocesan priesthood was strong.

Father Rapisarda, who prefers to be called “Father Greg,” is retiring at 75, but he plans to be plenty present.

Father John “Jack” Ward, a priest in the Archdiocese of Baltimore for nearly four decades known for his sense of humor and concern for parishioners, will retire on Sept. 30. Currently pastor of Our Lady of the Fields in Millersville, Father Ward has enjoyed a long ministry that includes serving in the Archdiocese of Baltimore […]