2025 marks an astounding milestone for the STA community as they come together to celebrate Father Celsus 40th anniversary of priesthood. For four decades, Father Celsus has dedicated his life to serving God and others with faith and compassion at St. Thomas. His presence in the community has helped many people, guiding students and families, while treating everyone with love and kindness.
When Father Celsus reflected on how it felt to reach this milestone, he said it feels unreal, like a dream. Forty years feels like it was just yesterday. He does not feel old at all and the journey has not felt long. He still feels like he is a young priest. When Father Celsus first began his priesthood, he never imagined that he would have come this far; he was taught to take it one day at a time. “Not to project, because it is the projection that brings pain and makes it arduous, so just enjoy the moment and the ride. Live in the present; the past is of no consequence because it is gone and there is nothing you can do. The future is uncertain. God is in the present, God never said I was but I am.” Father never dreamed of forty years; he never went there.
Father has had many memorable experiences and moments in his forty years, but one specific moment stood out to him the most. It was when his own mother asked him to hear her confession. It was such a humbling experience for him that his mother not only saw him as her son but also as a priest and allowed him to hear her confession and help her through her journey.
Father Celsus was inspired by a combination of things when he became a priest. His vocation was always innate; it was always there. When he was growing up, he was naturally drawn to the church and his life revolved around it. When asked who influenced him most, he said, “In terms of influence, my mother influenced me. She never sent us to church but she took us to church. She lived by example.” This played a great role in his life, along with his friends who always believed he was going to become a priest and saw that it was his calling.
A great example of some of Father Celsus’rewards in serving the STA community came when a freshman, who was not even in his class, asked him if anyone had ever thought about becoming a priest. That moment felt rewarding to Father because of what that student saw in the priesthood through him. Teachers have also told him that students have become excited about Mass and the word of God. They talk about it and look forward to it. People now see that the priesthood is not boring, and neither is being Catholic. People seem to be happy around him and they learn from the Masses. This is absolutely one of his greatest joys in being part of the STA community.
One specific scripture that has really meant a lot to him and guided him is Romans 5:20: “The law entered in so that transgression might increase, but where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more.” No matter what you did or where you are, God’s love is always bigger. There is always mercy with God. St. Augustine says that every saint has a past so that every sinner has a future. This shows how the love of God is truly mesmerizing.
When Father Celsus was presented with recognition from the Pope, he was emotional. He never thought it would happen. He said, “I was just on cloud nine. I just feel humble that I could have been this impactful and that my priesthood could take me to this point. It is all because I kept saying yes.”
Father Celsus’ message to younger generations and others is, “Say yes to God. Be generous. Never be selfish. You can never say no to God.” The more generous you are with God, the more blessed you are. God has a plan in store for you. Do not say no to God. He cannot make a mistake.
Father has a lot in store for celebrating his 40th anniversary. He has already started but there is more to come. He is planning to embark on a one-day spiritual pilgrimage to the Basilica of Mary, Star of the Sea, in Key West. Then he will go on a long and meaningful weekend pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. After that, he will spend five nights in Dominica during the holiest week of the year. Lastly, he will go on a three-night Caribbean cruise on July 28, his birthday.
The last thing that Father Celsus wanted to add was, “Pray for me. I ask to die a holy and happy priest.”
