Special St. Cecilia Celebration at Good Shepherd, Wilmington

Good Shepherd, Wilmington is honored to have Father Bill Eberle as Celebrant on the 50th anniversary of his ordination on the day of their celebration of Saint Cecilia! In honor of these momentous occasions, they will dedicate our new stained glass windows in the Sacristy, thanks to the efforts of Peter Perschbacher, and the generous donors. All the windows have sponsors, with excess proceeds providing funds for repairs and painting of the remaining windows. They will have a potluck lunch after the service (in lieu of the 1st Sunday in February).

Below is a reflection from Father Bill on his fifty years as a priest:

 

Seven months after receiving my Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in New York City, I was ordained a Priest January 26, 1975, at The Church of the Redeemer, the largest parish in the Diocese of Maryland.  Fifty years and six parishes in six different dioceses later, I celebrate the people who have walked alongside me in ministry and those still on the pilgrimage with me this side of retirement in 2015.

Now, our Church Pension Fund pays me after 42 years of my contributing to them.  My wife, Linda, says I have been “re-purposed”—not “recycled” and certainly not “retired.” Linda has always been–and continues to be—my primary encourager and guide in the range of ministry entrusted to me.  She retired eight years ago from a distinguished career in Social Work.  I am exceedingly grateful for our marriage and our partnership in ministry and her equanimity through everything.  A la Dr Suess: “Oh, the places you will go, oh, the people you will meet!”

As I reflect on the possibilities for ministry and learning, spiritual growth and loving people; I know I have been blessed way beyond my deserving. When you start early enough and hang around long enough,  you can choose all sorts of people to serve: in posh suburbs and in a rural village in Haiti; in towns, in rural areas and on the outskirts of cities; in jail, community hospitals, psychiatric settings, and large teaching hospitals; at the diocesan level, deanery level, and with primary school kids; inside our church at Cursillo, Happening, Marriage Encounter weekends,  The Alpha Course, teaching in the School for Deacons and consulting with other parishes; community  healing events, and  helping to host a Billy Graham Crusade as part of a multi-denominational, pastors, monthly, prayer meetings.

Through all the years—moment by moment—people have helped me in my spiritual growth and understanding.  I have been mentored like Timothy—St Paul’s protégé—and I have been truly blessed to be a “Barnabus,” an encourager to many in ministry.  There have been projects, events, programs with varying “success” but more important to me have been the healing, the restored lives, the entrusting of daily lives to Jesus, and–in all these relationships–the discovery of joy.

It has all been much better than I deserve—but that’s God for you.

Fr. Bill Eberle