THE CATHOLIC POST
JUBILARIANS 2022 B3
thecatholicpost.com
SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2022
Congratulations Fr. Mark DeSutter on 40 years in the Priesthood and all other Jubilarians! Thank you for your dedicated service of 14 years as our pastor, from 2000 to 2014.
Msgr. Gerald T. Ward, Pastor 1020 S. First Ave.,
Morton, IL 61550
bscmorton.org
upon your 40 years of dedicated service to the Diocese of Peoria!
Jubilarians 2022
In this section:
60 years of priesthood for Father Anderson, Msgr. Pricco: B2-B3 10 priests marking silver jubilees: B4-B13 23 women religious observing milestone anniversaries: B15-B19 Sixth class of minister for 25 years: B20
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A special section of
Deacon Joseph LaHood baptizes his grandson, Aaron Joseph, at Holy Family Church in Peoria on Feb. 27. Presenting the child for baptism are parents Anthony LaHood and Amy Frank. The nine men who are celebrating their 25th anni- versary as permanent deacons said baptizing their grand- children is among the most memorable moments of their ministry. See page B20. Provided photo.
On the cover
LASALLE - Msgr. Richard Pricco makes it a point to wave to people as he walks his dog each morning. Hes not just being polite. The wave is a God bless you! I dont care if they wave back. Im blessing them, he said. And who knows what that bless- ing does to them that day? It is his way of preaching - even if he isnt using words. Msgr. Pricco has made good use of his preaching skills over the last six decades. Born Feb. 22, 1937, in Spring Valley, he is the son of James J. and Anna Dolores (Lijewski) Pricco, and grew up in LaSalle. He attended St. Hyacinth School in LaSalle and went on to St. Bede Academy and St. Bede Junior College in Peru. He completed his studies for the priesthood at St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. Ordained with him by Bishop John B. Franz on June 3, 1962, at St. Marys Cathedral, was Father Joseph Anderson. (See page B2.) Two members of their class are deceased: Father John J. Podlashes and Msgr. William Watson. After ordination, Msgr. Pricco served as parochial vicar at Holy Cross, Cham- paign, and was named a diocesan consul- tor in 1974. He was appointed pastor at St. Paul in Macomb in 1977 and would lead the parish and school there until he was granted senior status in 2017. During his nearly 40 years there, he would serve as vicar of the Macomb Vicariate and assume pastoral care for St. Rose in Rushville in 2006.
After 60 years, Msgr. Pricco blesses and feels blessed
He was named a Chaplain to His Holi- ness with the title of monsignor in 2003.
YOU'RE TOO TALL!"
A conversation with Msgr. Pricco is illed with humor: When he arrived at Holy Cross Church in Champaign and told the housekeeper, Im Father Pricco, she said, No, you cant be. Youre too tall! But it's also filled with love for priestly ministry and the people he has served. I loved going to the hospital . . . to be with the dying and the sick, he said, adding that he made it a habit to go to the house of those who died and spend time with the family. Baptisms filled him with joy, and he always lifted the baby for the assembly to see before the final blessing at Mass. I think The Lion King got that from me, he quipped. In addition, there are words of love for St. Paul School in Macomb. Not only did he visit with the principal three or four times a week, but he had lunch with the teachers almost every day. My presence there, I think, helped considerably, he said. Never had a cross word with a teacher or a principal. And the students brightened his days. At almost every Mass, at the end, I would tell them, Say your prayers and do your work and everything else will fall into place and Remember always, God loves you, he said. They picked up on that and would say, Monsignor, God loves you! So do his former parishioners. When Christmas cards arrive, he keeps them neatly filed in a basket. Each day Msgr. Pricco returns their love by taking the first one out and offering Mass for that person. Im thankful to the Lord that he gave me the opportunity to serve him through his people, he said. Msgr. Pricco is not planning a celebra- tion. Mail may be sent to him at 1125 Marquette, LaSalle, IL 61301. One of the ways Msgr. Richard Pricco dem- onstrates his creativity is through his train village, which takes up the entire attic of his LaSalle home. Even so, it is a third smaller than when it was in the rectory at St. Paul, Macomb. The Catholic Post/ Jennifer Willems
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