|
Priest
Biography
Very Rev. Thomas Frank SSJ
Ordination: 5/20/78 St.
Benedict the Moor Parish, Washington, D.C.
Order: Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart
Section / Area: 4, Baltimore
Area
WWME Weekend: March 1980 in Washington, DC
Call to priesthood:
I came into this world and into a Catholic family in which both
parents came from families of nine. On my Father’s side he
had two Sisters who were nuns and a Brother who was a Josephite
Priest. I was an altar boy for many years serving on the cusp of
Latin Mass and Vatican II. Between my family and an assistant pastor
in our parish who spent time with our family, my vocation grew.
After graduating from high school and eliminating other possibilities
like the Benedictines, Jesuits and the Archdiocese of Seattle for
a number of real and imagined reasons. I followed my Uncle and became
a Josephite Priest. I wanted to serve the God and the Church and
make a difference in people’s lives. Jesus Christ had the
ministry of Savior all sewed up, so I believed in a call to be a
laborer in His vineyard in the African American Community. It has
been a marvelous journey of faith that has enabled me to be a parish
priest for 18 years and a Seminary Formation Director for the past
8 years.
Seminaries:
St.
Joseph Seminary, Washington, DC
Assignments:
Presently Rector of St.
Joseph Seminary, in the past I was Director of the Josephite
House of Studies(our minor seminary), Pastor of 3 parishes(Houston,
Baltimore, DC) and Assistant Pastor or Parochial Vicar in 2 parishes(DC,
Houston)
Hobbies & Interests:
Spending time with families, Biking, Movies,
Computer gymnastics
How has WWME helped or supported you in your ministry/Priesthood?
I experienced my original WWME W/E in March of 1980 and been an
active member of this movement for 24 years. WWME has been a living
part of my priesthood, a support to my ministry, and along with
my parishioners wherever I have been assigned whether in the Louisiana/Texas
or in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area. The tools of Matrimonial
Spirituality have helped more than I could imagine. Presenting W/E’s
enables me to give something back to the Movement and influence
families in our Country. I have been richly blessed by the Weekend
we share, and the great friendship and love received from the couples
and families I have come to know and cherish.
Your suggestions for promoting WWME:
Since I am involved in WWME leadership nationally on two levels,
through the Inviting Pillar and through LTR presentations, I hope
that the resources and formation provided will impact the Church
in the dioceses. My formation efforts in the Seminary and living
out the values of our Movement will influence the seminarians, priests
and brothers of our community.
Your Hopes and Dreams for WWME:
To spread and grow the movement and help fulfill the mission of
WWME to the fullest extent possible.
Click
here for a printable page (PDF, 8KB)
We at eMatrimony
have asked all the WWME presenting priests to share their stories
so we might honor them for their “yes” to God, the church,
and to WWME. We also hope that through reading the stories in this
ongoing series, you will be inspired to promote and encourage priest
vocations.
A big thank you goes to the priests who are sharing their stories
with us. This is a developing series, so Father, if you have not
yet shared your story with us, we are anxious to hear from you.
Click
here for more information on how you can submit your story.
|
