Father Prince Completes his Half Century!  

Father Joseph Prince, a second cousin on my Dad’s side, just completed 50 years as a priest — an extraordinary feat in any day and age but certainly in this one — and a major cause for a family reunion and celebration! In addition to his Golden Jubilee, Prince was also celebrating his Silver Jubilee as Pastor at St. Elizabeth Seton in Ridgefield, Connecticut. The parish was throwing him a grand party to commemorate the dual anniversaries and his lifelong service to the Catholic Church.

Since we were all fully vaxxed (Mum included), we drove up to Ridgefield, only an hour by road from Flushing, NY. We had sunny mid-sixties weather the entire weekend with a sharp nip in the air and the added bonus of viewing peak fall foliage: leaves resplendent in autumnal colors: flame, rust, scarlet, orange, yellow, gold.

Arrival in 1975! 

Prince, who studied at a seminary in Pune, India, was ordained as a priest in Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, in 1971. He had initially planned to travel to the Philippines to pursue a communications degree in mass media but dropped that plan when he couldn’t get a visa and decided on the U.S. instead. He was accepted at Fairfield University in Connecticut, arriving at JFK Airport, NY in 1975 with the kingly (princely?) sum of 100 dollars in his pocket, minus other resources, and no place to stay or work! That took courage! A kindly priest from Fairfield University arranged for him to stay free of cost with a group of Jesuits until he found permanent housing while attending school full time.

For the past nearly four decades, Prince has served in several different Connecticut parishes: St. Andrew’s in Bridgeport, St. Mary’s in Ridgefield, St. Peter’s in Danbury, St. Rosa Lima in Newtown, and St. Leo’s and St. Gabriel’s in Stamford. In 1996, he was chosen to lead the Ridgefield Parish and, during his quarter century at St. Elizabeth Seton, has overseen major renovations and additions to the building, including the installation of rather spectacular stained glass windows, donated by a parishioner.

Longevity and Success!

Prince attributes his longevity and success to his beloved congregation where he has close relationships with many families. He is humbled to have had the opportunity to officiate at milestone events in the lives of his parishioners: at baptisms, first communions, confirmations, marriages, and other sacraments.

A constant refrain when you speak with him are the notes of appreciation and humility he strikes. He said how “grateful, honored and humbled” he felt “by their love and affirmation” and gives full credit to his friends, his parishioners, his bishop, and fellow priests — including a “desi” mafia of mainly Tamil clerics who get together for Indian food every now and then!

The Golden Jubilee service was concelebrated by several priests. There was also a full contingent of more than 30 other priests seated on the side, a wonderful choir, and an organ.

Pastor Emeritus

Prince will stay on at St. Elizabeth Seton as Parish Priest until the end of 2021 and then transition to Pastor Emeritus. He hopes to have more free time next year to play “a bit of golf,” he said, but only after he has had knee surgery to correct a painfully arthritic knee. He considers himself lucky — only three other priests ordained with him are still living. 

We were fortunate to meet another cousin and his family, Nirmal Kumar, his wife Stella, and two girls, Reya and Sandra, also from Coimbatore who now live in Iselin, NJ. During our university days, the home of Nirmal’s grandfather “Uncle David” in Gandhipuram, Coimbatore, was a frequent and popular stopover and meeting place for many of our kith and kin!

We decided to spend the night before the big Mass at the Hilton Hotel in Danbury so the trip would be more relaxing — and Prince invited us all to dinner at the Rectory: to an elaborate Indian meal (loved the dhal!) he’d himself prepared; add serious cooking skills to his many talents! 

Sabbath Song

Prince is famous in my family for singing the Sabbath Song from “Fiddler on the Roof” (the Broadway play and film) at my sister Lorna’s wedding. I recall his voice being a velvety baritone — truly a memorable moment! I also visited him at St. Leo’s in Stamford and remember taking the Amtrak train all the way from Washington D.C. and being with his mother and family when they visited D.C.

When I told my pal, Lore, that we went to a fun get together to mark our priest cousin’s 50th, she wondered, “Is a priest anniversary party fun?” to which my response was “It actually was!” Her classic rejoinder, “Who knew priests could rock ‘n roll!”

It so happens that we now have Golden Jubilee priests on both sides of the family! Mum’s brother Rev. Monsignor Nicholas Soares of Staten Island, NY (formerly a Salesian in Mumbai, India) has also completed 50 years since his ordination during a visit to India by Pope Paul VI! Wonder if all that spirituality rubs off onto us lesser mortals!

Ludi Joseph

New York

October 27, 2021

Notes:

Fall foliage is a deciduous tree phenomenon (mainly East Coast), unknown in tropical climes such as South Asia. I think North America, Japan, and the Swiss Alps have some of the most spectacular views!

Pastor Emeritus is a title conferred on a retiring pastor by Church leadership and is a way of honoring him. 

By kith and kin, I mean my Dad’s brothers, cousins and their families. My Dad’s only sister, Lidwin — a nun — was the Mother General of the Presentation Order and invited Lorna and I to do our undergrad studies in Coimbatore.

Nirmal’s aunt Amala was in college with Lorna and I and sent us a lovely video greeting!

Prince at his Ordination, India, 1971

Prince at his Ordination, India, 1971

Prince at St. Elizabeth Seton Rectory, Oct. 23, 2021

At the Mass

At the Mass

Mass Program

City Official Confers Honor on Prince 

Nirmal, Reya, Sandra, Stella, Mum 

Fall Foliage

Fall Foliage

Kathy, Leslie, Moi at Lunch Party

Kathy, Mati, Lorna at Lunch Party

Mum, Leslie, Lorna, Moi