Before celebrating their 50th anniversary Mass as priests on May 9, 2023, Washington Cardinal Wilton Gregory at center poses for a group photo in the sacristy at St. Matthew’s Cathedral with eight of the men who were ordained to the priesthood with him in Chicago on that very day 50 years earlier. From left to right are Father James Joslyn, Father Frank Sasso, Father Edward Mikolajczyk, Father Dennis O’Neill, Cardinal Gregory, Father John Lodge, Msgr. Kenneth Velo, Father Michael Cronin and Father Daniel Smilanic. (CS photo/Mihoko Owada) Cardinal Wilton Gregory, holding his crosier, processes to the altar at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C., for a May 9, 2023 Mass that he celebrated with eight ordination classmates to mark the 50th anniversary of their ordination to the priesthood. (CS photo/Mihoko Owada)The music at the May 9 Mass at St. Matthew’s Cathedral celebrated by Cardinal Wilton Gregory and eight of his ordination classmates marking the 50th anniversary of their ordination to the priesthood was led by the cathedral’s Schola Cantorum choir and included music by a brass quintet. (CS photos/Mihoko Owada)
During his homily at the May 9 Mass at St. Matthew’s Cathedral marking the 50th anniversary of their ordination to the priesthood, Cardinal Gregory glances toward eight of his ordination classmates who were concelebrating the Mass with him. (CS photo/Mihoko Owada)
During the 50th anniversary Mass for Cardinal Gregory and eight of his ordination classmates, the cardinal is presented with an offertory gift by Sara Blauvelt, the Director for Catechesis in the Office for Catechesis of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington. (CS photo/Mihoko Owada)Cardinal Wilton Gregory elevates the Eucharist during the consecration at a May 9 Mass at St. Matthew’s Cathedral marking the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. Concelebrating the Mass were eight priests who were ordained with him in Chicago in 1973, including at left Father Frank Sasso and Msgr. Kenneth Velo, and at right Father Michael Cronin and Father Edward Mikolajczyk. (CS photo/Mihoko Owada)
At the 50th anniversary Mass for Cardinal Gregory and eight of his ordination classmates celebrated on May 9 at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, the cardinal gives Communion to Deirdre Schmutz, his executive assistant. (CS photo/Mihoko Owada)A woman religious prays during the 50th anniversary Mass celebrated on May 9 by Cardinal Gregory and eight of his ordination classmates at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington. (CS photo/Mihoko Owada)Cardinal Wilton Gregory and his fellow 50th jubilarian priests pose together after celebrating a May 9, 2023 Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C. They are from left to right, Father James Joslyn, Father Michael Cronin, Father John Lodge, Father Edward Mikolajczyk, Cardinal Gregory, Father Daniel Smilanic, Father Dennis O’Neill, Msgr. Kenneth Velo, and Father Frank Sasso. (CS photo/Mihoko Owada)
