Jun 21, 2006 / 22:00 pm
Cardinal Avery Dulles celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood last month with a mass of thanksgiving at the Fordham's University Church, where he was ordained by Cardinal Francis Spellman.
“The religious life and the priesthood, both of which I celebrate today as my twofold calling, ought never to be seen in isolation,” Cardinal Dulles said during his homily at the May 25 mass. “Every vocation in the church, as Paul reminds us in Ephesians, is for the sake of the whole body, so that all God’s people together may attain to the fullness of Christ, each contributing in his or her own way.”
Cardinal Dulles was joined by seven principal concelebrants: Cardinal Edward Egan, Archbishop of New York; Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, retired Archbishop of Philadelphia; Archbishop Peter Gerety, retired Archbishop of Newark; Bishop Daniel Hart, retired Bishop of Norwich; Bishop Frank Rodimer, retired Bishop of Paterson; Bishop Josu Iriondo, Auxiliary Bishop of New York; and Abbot Gabriel Gibbs of St. Benedict Abbey in Still River, Mass.
Cardinal Dulles is the author of 22 books and more than 750 articles interpreting church doctrine and the papacy. He has been recognized with the Cardinal Spellman Award for distinguished achievement in theology and 38 honorary doctorates. Dulles was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope John Paul II in 2001.
The Cardinal, who will celebrate his 88th birthday Aug. 24, is currently working on two new books.
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