For Msgr. John Enzler, returning to St. John’s College High School in Washington as the school’s chaplain is “like coming back home.”

The veteran priest, who graduated from St. John’s in 1965, retired in June after serving for 12 years as the president and CEO of Catholic Charities of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, and he continues to serve as that agency’s mission advocate.

On Sept. 8, in his new role as St. John’s chaplain, Msgr. Enzler celebrated the opening school year Mass for its 1,250 students, encouraging them to follow the example of Mary and Joseph and to “say yes” to God’s call for their lives.

“Say yes” had been the priest’s motto at Catholic Charities for its staff, volunteers and supporters. The priest told the St. John’s students that their “yes” in following God can involve a daily commitment “to do the right thing, say the right thing and to be the right person.”

On a wall behind the altar set up at the Gallagher Gymnasium of the school sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers was a large banner with the message, “Live Jesus in Our Hearts Forever.”

As he opened his homily, Msgr. Enzler said, “I love this place. It’s a place where I grew a lot.” He said coming back to St. John’s 58 years after his graduation “is like going back to school for me… I’m with you guys and gals as you continue your journey.”

In his 50 years as a priest, Msgr. Enzler has also served as the as pastor of the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Washington, Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Potomac and Mount Calvary Parish in Forestville and as the director of the archdiocese’s Catholic Youth Organization/Office of Youth Ministry.

“I just enjoy being part of the growth of young people in the Church,” he said.

Special prayers at the Mass were offered for Artie Bryant, a longtime boys’ basketball coach at the school who died earlier that week, and for Patrick Behan, the varsity boys basketball coach who led the Cadets to the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship this past season while battling ALS and who had to step down from that post in August.

As Mass ended, Msgr. Enzler invited the students to join him at daily Mass in the school’s De La Salle Chapel or to visit his office. “I’m here to help you how I can,” he said.

After Mass, Claire Quinn, a St. John’s senior and De La Salle Scholar who serves as a peer minister for fellow students, said the priest’s message about saying “yes” to God resonated with her as she prepares for college.

“I’m willing to say ‘yes’ and take everything I learned with me to wherever I go next,” said Quinn, a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Bethesda.

Katherine Gregory, another St. John’s senior and De La Salle Scholar who sang with the school’s Vocal Resonance choral group at the Mass, said she likewise appreciated Msgr. Enzler encouraging students to “say yes.”

“It’s especially important for seniors as we’re preparing for our next step,” said Gregory, who attends St. Raphael Church in Rockville. “It’s also important for our freshman as they come in and start participating in clubs and making new friends, they have so many opportunities to ‘say yes.’”

Before the Mass, Jeff Mancabelli, the president of St. John’s College High School, reflected on what it means to have Msgr. Enzler come back to his alma mater and serve as the school’s chaplain.

“For him to return, it’s an overwhelming joy to see this man who has lived his vocation deeply, return to this place where his faith and spirituality took root.” He added, “To have his voice in the ears, minds and hearts of our students is very powerful. He has such a warmth, and a welcoming personality. His physical presence in our Lasallian Ministry Mission Center, it invites students to want to enter.”

In an interview after the Mass, Msgr. Enzler said he was excited to be back at St. John’s. “My roots are here,” he said, praising the Christian Brothers’ school for the impact it had on his life. He and friends used to attend daily Mass together in the chapel there. The priest said his time as a student at St. John’s “certainly gave me the grounding and ability to think about what God wanted of me.”

Msgr. Enzler said that as the school’s chaplain, he will draw on his parish and youth ministry experiences, and also what he learned from growing up in a family with eight sisters and four brothers.

“I’m convinced there are young people searching for God, for peace, joy and happiness. I hope to be part of that journey,” Msgr. Enzler said. He added, “Some young people struggle and find adolescence difficult. I want to walk that path for them.”

For Msgr. Enzler, coming back to school at the age of 76 to be St. John’s chaplain is another way to “say yes.”