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Monsignor John Dickie Retires

Lesley Bradley

Monsignor John Dickie Retires

By Lesley Bradley

Although he’s giving up the responsibility of parish leadership, Fr. John will continue on with us in M.E. and Section 11 is so grateful.

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Rev. Msgr. John A Dickie

Here’s how Fr. John shared with eMatrimony in a recent issue:

Ordination: May 19, 1956, Diocese of San Diego, CA
WWME Weekend: November 15, 1975
What or who influenced you to enter the priesthood?
My 7th grade teacher first asked the questions and confirmed by own dream. My boyhood pastor and my family were very supportive.
Seminaries:
Immaculate Heart Seminary, El Cajon, CA (now closed)
Assignments:
Parish pastor (3 times), School work (teacher, principal, superintendent, Director of Catholic Conference of Bishops, seminary spiritual director, rector).
Hobbies & Interests:
I work with the Serra Club in promoting vocations.
Highs and Lows of Ministry:
High: I have enjoyed each assignment at the time I had it. High-success in what I was trying to do.
Low: Criticism and current scandal (in the church).
What inspires you?
Examples of others living values I hold.
What lowers your self-esteem?
Criticism and lack of support for those values.
How has WWME helped or supported you in your ministry/priesthood?
It has given me a support system of folks who believe as I do.
Your suggestion for promoting WWME:
This is a good question, but not easily answered. Where I live, the best results come through parishes (pulpit talks, bulletins).
Your Hopes and Dreams for WWME:
Fulfillment of the mission of renewal of Church through the renewal of married couples and priests, one sacrament at a time.

Dear Father John,

You were so helpful to us in our leadership, always willing to help with any situation and always ready with well-thought advice. We counted on your support and your nurturing ways. We love your dry sense of humor. We picture you in a goofy green hat with a big feather that you wore to a team meeting on St. Patrick’s Day one year. Just when we thought you were totally serious, you threw us a curve ball and we ended up in hysterics.”
Phil & Suzy Lampe

“I have known you since I was a 14-year old freshman in high school and you were the principal. I knew you as my Spiritual Director in the seminary. I have worked side by side with you after my ordination as we nurtured the vocations of other men in our seminar work together. I have been with you in our shared involvement in Marriage Encounter. I thank God for the gift of your life, your priesthood and friendship. I thank God for all the ways you have revealed Christ’s love to me through your integrity, honesty and gentleness and love.”
Fr. Michael Sinor

“We presented our Original Weekend with you and loved you right away. You were so vulnerable and funny and real on the Weekend. You helped us to see the human side of priests and we were motivated to begin a relationship with our own parish priest as a result. We were thrilled when we were selected to serve as Execs with you in 1992. We admired you for your wisdom and strength and you were our “rock” as we began our leadership. After all, we had only been encountered for three years, so we really depended on you. One of our fondest memories from that time was the three of us sitting on Santa’s knee at the South Bay Zone Christmas Party. We cherish our relationship with you and love you very much.”
Gene & Mary LeDuc

“Fr. John, you have been a pillar for the M.E. community. You presented our first Weekend and that was a bit intimidating. I (Michael) was raised as a Catholic and attended parochial school for 10 years. Priests were placed on a pedestal. Fr. John, you brought a new ideal to my eyes. You are human, with faults and weaknesses. I could see your soft side. You present as strong and very sure of yourself, but I could see that you could really use a big hug. To this day, I remember the feeling I had when it was your turn to sit with us at the dinner table. I was a little nervous but felt honored to have a priest sit with us at dinner. I began to understand that priests are just like us. The difference is that their spouse is the people of the church, that means us. You will continue to be a member of our ME community. Each Weekend you present reminds of us of the love you have for us and the church. Thanks for all you do!”
Michael & Judy Carteron

“For us, our ME Team Experience was defined by our term as leaders. While we trusted that God would provide for us, we were a little intimidated by what He had called us to do. And in stepped you, Fr. John. We did not know you well at the time. But in our first brief visit together, you exuded a quiet confidence that immediately calmed us. God had sent us our mentor. …During our time as Ecclesial Team we learned a lot from you, Fr. John. You gave us counsel and advice, showed us leadership and taught us a thing or two about spirituality and allowing God to work through us. But mostly you taught us how to love; not by lecture but by doing. You loved your team community – every couple and every priest. You loved the couples on the Weekend. The mission wasn’t about teaching and sharing only; for you it was about loving. You have many talents as a person and priest. We know relationship is important to you. You have a great ability to love and accept love. We know you are a private person, and maybe not always comfortable with sharing. Yet you stretch and go outside your comfort zone. You are truly one of the most wonderful men we have had the privilege of calling our friend.”
Mark & Katie Maasch

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